Thank you Chair,
The Department of Health has flat-lined, and its chances of resuscitation any time soon is very unlikely.
Only the comatose could give the nod on the budget as presented by the Department.
The Provinces went into the new financial year with R13 billion of accruals, the bulk of which is in the Gauteng Province.
Over R1 billion is recorded as irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
You cannot deliver effective health services or care to the poor and vulnerable when at the outset of the financial year, monies allocated are spent on recurring debts or will be lost to irregular expenditure.
The R134 million or 88% of the budget being transferred to the Provinces will not be used to upgrade services.
The health system faces collapse.
The Department faces R28 billion in malpractice claims and this is set to escalate as health facilities in South Africa continue to disintegrate, erode and attract fewer health professionals who cannot work in the appalling conditions. Nowhere in the budget is provision made for such claims or even a
portion of them.
With entities such as the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), South African Health Products Regulatory Agency (SAPHRA) and the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC) all reporting challenges of insufficient and appropriately qualified experts in various fields, consultation and
external contractors costs have increased from R179 000 to in excess of R25 million in the 2018/19 year and is expected to increase to R75.2 million in 2020/21.
Agency, Support and Outsources services have escalated from R1 million to R25.8 million. Explanations for such astronomical increases are vague and a clear indication that the Department of Health and its entities are in need of more intensive care. It is incomprehensible that the budget for Radiation Control and Health Technology has faced a massive cut of 90% in the 2018/19 financial year. Given the current oncology crisis in South Africa, this is a very troubling occurrence. No explanation for this cut was given. This budget was cut by R138.2 million to just R14.2 million.
It is another clear indication that the Minister and the governing party give little priority to a large part of the South African population who are ravaged by cancer.
Budgets for computer services and compensation of employees have also faced massive cuts. Where does that leave the health system? Failing.
The Compensation Commission for Occupational Diseases has only just presented its 2010 to 2012 Annual Reports to the Portfolio. The justification given to the Committee was shortages of administrative personnel to capture data.
Minister, we are not sure what you have been doing since your appointment, but it would appear that you have been altogether out of touch with the terminal condition of your Department.
The NHLS was R833 million in the red. While a turnaround strategy is in place and R213 million has been paid off, the corruption and mismanagement have now resulted in a huge problem in the midterm.
Monitoring and evaluation had to insist that the Department puts proper SMC policies in the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), the NHLS and the OHSC because of the continual and recurring irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
The Auditor General report on Provincial Performances, especially in areas of financial controls and management, was enough to increase blood pressure to alarming levels.
Please Minister, spend time at the Western Cape Department of Health, it is the only Province that is functioning properly, with a good track record and a great audit report.
It is not surprising though. It is after all being managed by the DA, who takes the care and support of the health of all South Africans seriously.
I thank you.