REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH ON BUDGET VOTE 14 AND THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2009/10 FINANCIAL YEAR, DATED 25 JUNE 2009

 

The Portfolio Committee on Health, having considered the Budget vote 14: Health and the Strategic Plan of the Department of Health and its public entities for the 2009/10 financial year, on the 17 and 24 June 2009, reports as follows: 

 

1. OVERVIEW OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN

 

The Director-General of the Department of health highlighted the national health system priorities (The 10 point plan) for 2009-2012 financial years as follows:

 

  1. Provision of Strategic leadership and creation of social compact for better health outcomes.
  2. Implementation of the National Health Insurance Plan.
  3. Improving the quality of health services.
  4. Overhauling the health care system and improve its management.
  5. Improved human resource planning, development and management.
  6. Revitalisation of physical infrastructure.
  7. Accelerated implementation of the HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan and the increased focus on TB and other communicable diseases.
  8. Mass mobilisation for the better health for the population.
  9. Review of the Drug Policy.
  10. Strengthening research and development.

 

The Director-General explained to the Committee that the Medicines Control Council does not have a separate budget and strategic plan from the Department’s as it is a committee incorporated in the Department and not an entity.  He also informed Members of the Committee that they have not fully finalised the strategic plan of the Department, due to changes in the Department and that the finalised strategic plan will be tabled formally early the following week.

 

2. BUDGET OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

 

In 2009/10 financial year the budget allocated for the Department of Health increased from R15.9 billion to R17.1 billion.  Six programmes have been identified for 2009/10 and the largest amount of the budget is allocated to Programme 5 which is Health Services.

 

The Members of the Committee raised the following concerns:

 

  • The Budget that is allocated to the Department is not sufficient for the Department to be able to deliver fully on its aim of promoting health for South Africans and to deliver on what the people are expecting. 
  • The Committee was concerned about the implementation of the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) as this needed urgent attention to enable service delivery especially in the public sector.
  • The re-opening of the Nursing Colleges also needed urgent attention to address the shortage of health professionals in the country.

 

 

3. Public Entities

 

The Committee also considered the Strategic Plans of the following public entities:

 

  • National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS)
  • Medical Research Council (MRC)

 

3.1 National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS)

 

  • The Committee was concerned about the presentation of the NHLS as they did not mention anything about the budget allocated to them by the Department.
  • The Members were also concerned about the large sums of money the Provinces owe to the NHLS.

 

 

3.2 Medical Research Council (MRC)

 

  • The Committee sought clarity about the source of data on causes of death in South Africa that the MRC was using to determine the health research priorities of the country, particularly the accuracy of data received from the Department of Home Affairs.

 

 

4. Conclusion

 

Due to time constraints and the fact that the majority of the members are new to the Committee, the Committee will arrange follow-up briefings with the Department and the entities.

 

The Committee having considered Budget Vote 14 and the Strategic Plan of the Department and its entities, reports that it has concluded its deliberations thereon.

 

The Committee recommends that Budget Vote 14 be passed.  The DA members of the Committee abstained from voting as they needed to meet with their caucus.

 

Report to be considered.