The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) unveiled its R64.8 billion budget allocation for the 2024/25 financial year, focusing on digital health advancements, improving health infrastructure, and strengthening the primary healthcare system.
Delivering the 2024/25 Budget Vote speech at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, emphasised the Department's commitment to building a digitally enabled, equitable, and efficient healthcare system.
She highlighted the GDoH’s plans to enhance real-time monitoring of health system performance through an Integrated Health Information System, leveraging technological innovations to reduce waiting times and enhance security measures.
"Protecting patient data is of utmost priority, and we will ensure robust data security and privacy measures, including the implementation of facial recognition and biometric systems for movement control in our facilities," said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
The Department has allocated R284 million in 2024/25 and R893 million over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for the rollout of the comprehensive health information system to achieve the "1 patient, 1 file" dream. This includes digitising around 800 patient records over three years.
Nkomo-Ralehoko outlined plans to improve health infrastructure, focusing on ensuring that all public health facilities in the province meet the set standards of compliance with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS).
Efforts will be accelerated to improve the quality of care and increase the proportion of "ideal hospitals" in the province, leveraging the fact that currently 68% of Gauteng's hospitals have already achieved this status. Additionally, a budget allocation of R1.7 billion in 2024/25 and R5.3 billion over the MTEF has been set aside to prepare facilities for the rollout of the National Health Insurance (NHI).
The Department aims to address gaps in neonatal care by expanding neonatal facilities and improving neonatal healthcare, including increasing neonatal bed capacity, human resources, and essential equipment across hospitals in the province.
Another crucial focus area is the expansion of mental health services in the province, with a budget of R474.6 million in 2024/25 and R1.4 billion over the MTEF allocated for strengthening mental healthcare services, including additional acute beds and district mental health teams.
The GDoH’s commitment to addressing the burden of diseases and improving cancer treatment remains solid. In this regard, the Department has set aside R261 million in 2024/25 and R819 million over the MTEF for the reduction of oncology (radiation) backlog in facilities.
Preventative care and health promotion is at the heart of priorities set out, with a budget of R38.1 million in 2024/25 and R119.7 million over the MTEF allocated for health and wellness campaigns, as well as physical activity programmes in prioritised areas such as townships, informal settlements and hostels.
“Promoting positive health outcomes by encouraging healthy lifestyles and health literacy remains a top priority in this administration. We will continue to educate and mobilise communities to take charge of their health and wellbeing, ultimately reducing the burden of disease on the public health system,” concluded Nkomo-Ralehoko.
IOL