Latest news with #HealthPortfolioCommittee
IOL News
26-04-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Health Department stands by NHI education budget despite calls for reallocation
In defence of spending on NHI advertising, Deputy Minister of Health Joe Phaahla said it is as important as possible in terms of how the Department of Health assisted South Africans to get a fair amount of information. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers The South African Health Department is standing firm in its commitment to promoting the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, even as voices arise, urging a reallocation of funds to address other pressing health needs. Deputy Minister of Health Joe Phaahla has emphasised that the government's strategy surrounding NHI education is not simply a binary choice of either funding allocation or prioritisation of other health initiatives. During a budget presentation to the Health Portfolio Committee, Phaahla outlined that the current opposition to NHI is multifaceted, involving not merely legal challenges but also a broader effort to win the hearts and minds of South Africans. 'The pushback on NHI implementation is not only in courts, but is a battle of the hearts and minds of South Africans. It is important as much as possible in terms of how we assist South Africans to get a fair amount of information. It is neither this nor that,' Phaahla said. He made the statement when the department presented its budget during the meeting of the Health Portfolio Committee on Thursday. The NHI took centre stage during the meeting, with DA MP Michele Clarke noting that Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi still planned to spend another R10m on NHI advertising. Clarke was of the view the funding could be used toward the treatment of HIV in the wake of the recent withdrawal of US aid funding. In its presentation, the department said there were processes under way in preparation for the NHI Fund. This included the essential equipment list that was to be finalised. 'This is focusing on primary care level as well as accreditation level to be used to accredit service providers that are to participate in NHI,' the department's head of planning unit, Koketso Sebanyoni, said. Sebanyoni also said that as part of NHI preparations, they would track the number of patients actively receiving medication. 'We hope this number can increase to 3.5 million in this financial year.' She added that work was being done on developing the integrated electronic health record system. 'We envisage we will finalise the second phase on the primary care package,' Sebanyoni said. The department said out of its R64.6 billion budget, NHI will be allocated R1.4bn. There was R2.4 billion allocated in the NHI indirect grant for health facilities revitalisation and R7.2bn for the NHI conditional grant. There was also R466m allocation for the contracting of additional health professionals. MPs wanted an update on the appointment of the NHI board and the funding mechanism for the NHI and overburdening of the country's health care system by illegal foreigners, among other things. The department was receiving comments from stakeholders on the regulations that were published in March on the proposed governance regulations of the NHI Fund.
IOL News
24-04-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Urgent intervention needed at Jonah G. Vaughn Centre amid neglect and mismanagement allegations
A damning oversight visit has revealed shocking conditions at the Jonah G. Vaughn Centre which falls under the Durban and Coastal Mental Health (DCMH), prompting urgent calls for intervention from the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature's Health Portfolio Committee chairperson. Health Portfolio Committee chairperson Dr Imran Keeka conducted a visit to the centre. Keeka said the facility, which provides care for individuals with mental health challenges, was found to be without electricity, leaving users to bathe in cold water despite the plummeting temperatures in KwaZulu-Natal. There was reportedly no food available except for a donation received on the day of the visit, while staff told officials that nearly all residents have been losing weight and the level of care has 'rapidly deteriorated.' Despite reported visits and interventions from the Departments of Health and Social Development, both of which fund the facility there appears to have been no lasting improvement, he said. Staff at the facility say they are receiving little to no support from their superiors. Keeka has written an urgent letter to the MEC for Health, warning that failure to act could lead to a humanitarian disaster. 'Are they being slowly starved like those at Life Esidimeni, and are we waiting for such a situation to land on our doorstep?' he asked. 'Then we will all rush to express condolences when, instead, intervention is urgent?' Keeka raised serious allegations in the letter, including claims of a 'don't care attitude' from the CEO and possible looting of up to R20 million from the facility. He stated that there are suspicions that both current and former board members may have used the facility's finances for personal gain. 'I write to call for your urgent interventions herein, both in terms of all powers vested in your offices as well as in those of your accounting officers,' Keeka stated. "Place an alert on the matters that I am raising herein, lest the matters spiral out of control.' He has also called for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the allegations. The provincial Departments of Health and Social Development has been approached for comment on the allegations.
