Latest news with #Motsoaledi
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Will forcing MPs to use public healthcare make it better?
If somebody important gets rushed into a government hospital, throwing somebody out of ICU to make way for them wouldn't be an issue. Another day, and yet another suggestion from ActionSA that public officials should be forced to use public services, as if that will somehow make those services better. If it's not public officials being forced to use public transport, it's that they must send their kids to public schools. The latest from the Herman Mashaba camp is that public servants should use public healthcare services. One can nearly hear the internal laughter of Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi at the idea (one that he has publicly supported). Presumably, he has no problem supporting it, given that he's doubling down on the National Health Insurance (NHI). It would be pretty silly to advocate for the eventual blending of private and public healthcare, but demand that his ilk continue to be allowed to use private healthcare. Perhaps that was the strategy of ActionSA all along: getting Motsoaledi to admit a personal lust toward private healthcare. If that was the reason, it's gone down as well as a quirky Helen Zille tweet. ALSO READ: Bara hospital: The good, bad and ugly However, the actual idea of forcing public officials to use public services to create some sort of political investment incentive is not just stupid, it's divorced from any South African context. Maybe that would work in a country where there's some sort of honour, even if it's among thieves, but this is South Africa. This is the country where we dare not even introduce self-service checkouts at grocers because we know how disastrous that would be. So not only do we have to embrace the imposed moniker of 'Plastique?' but we also have to accept that for the right people, the public purse will get them anything from a fire pool to a trip to the Cannes Film Festival. How is it that despite the Department of Health never having any money, there are still so many awesome doctors in public hospitals? There may be no medicine for the plebeians, but the lights are still on, and if somebody important or a friend of a friend gets rushed in, throwing somebody out of the ICU to make way for them wouldn't be an issue. The problem has never been that we don't have the facilities to deal with sick people. The problem has always been that we don't have enough facilities to deal with all the sick people who are not politically important. ALSO READ: 'I could die before surgery': Cancer patient lost in Gauteng hospitals backlog I don't think Motsoaledi cares which hospital he ends up in. He could be in a rural clinic in Limpopo, but if they had to fly in the best medical team and equipment, best believe they'll do it. Whether they'd do that for Sam Nje is less likely. You're dealing with a class of people who can walk into any school and bump their kids straight into the classroom on the day school starts, while the rest of us have to apply in utero just to get on the waiting list. This is why forcing them to use public services is hardly going to make the public services any better. Remember that strange aunty in your family? The one whose house had a great lounge that nobody was allowed in because it had to be preserved in case the Queen, Nelson Mandela and the Pope decided to come visit — simultaneously. That's all you'll create when you force public servants to use public services: the white elephant room that will remain vacant in case the deputy minister of transport gets hit by a taxi nearby. It's a sad state of affairs that one feels the need to incentivise public servants to serve the public. It's an even sadder state of affairs when trying to create those incentives is a losing battle. Maybe the answer should be to appoint public servants who are enthusiastic about public service in the first place. I wonder if they thought about that. NOW READ: Tshwane mayor faces outrage for Weskoppies Hospital power cut
IOL News
6 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
Motsoaledi: SA's HIV/AIDS programme will not collapse despite US funding cuts
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says South Africa's HIV/AIDS programme remains secure, with Treasury and global partners stepping in after the withdrawal of US funding. Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi says South Africa's world-leading HIV/Aids programme 'will not collapse' following the withdrawal of US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) funding earlier this year. This as the National Treasury injected R753 million into the programme with global partners pledging a further R600 million to support treatment and research. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump's administration announced it would halt all Pepfar funding, following previous global health aid cuts under the same administration. The decision by USAID to withdraw support has left a significant funding gap, particularly for countries like South Africa, where approximately 17% of the HIV/AIDS response was funded by Pepfar. Presenting the Department of Health's 2025/26 budget in Parliament on Wednesday, Motsoaledi outlined the National Department of Health's three key priorities: strengthening the public health system in preparation for National Health Insurance (NHI), eliminating key diseases such as HIV/AIDS and TB, and implementing long-overdue reforms in the private health sector. 'There is no way we are going to allow the world's biggest HIV/AIDS Programme to collapse- never.' He described claims of a collapse as premature and inaccurate, insisting the department had developed clear plans to bridge the funding gap. 'In South Africa we seem to like the word 'collapse'. Every time something meets headwinds, it is said to have collapsed,' he said. Motsoaledi told Parliament, emphasising that despite funding cuts, government and partners are stepping in. 'We presented our plans to National Treasury and asked for help. At the same time we approached other funders, both domestic and globally.' Motsoaledi revealed that National Treasury had responded to the department's request for support by releasing R753,528,000.
Daily Maverick
09-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Maverick
Putting a price on health — five key takeaways from Minister Motsoaledi's budget vote address
Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi's budget vote address laid out spending priorities for the 2025/26 financial year, including infrastructure, National Health Insurance, and gaps left by Donald Trump's canning of Pepfar funding. Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi tabled the 2025/26 health budget vote in Parliament on Wednesday, 9 July, laying out the spending priorities for the current financial year. His speech centred around strengthening infrastructure, reversing the impacts of yearslong austerity measures, and addressing the withdrawal of US aid funding for South African health programmes. Wednesday's proceedings followed a tumultuous 2025 Budget process, which saw Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's Budget speech delayed twice and only finalised on 21 May. 'This [health] budget is being presented at a very challenging time in the history of our country, including geopolitical events of recent days,' said Motsoaledi. 'However, I must assert that challenging as the moment is, there is a lot we should be excited about.' A National Department of Health budget of R64.8-billion was presented to the National Assembly for consideration. Below are five key takeaways from Motsoaledi's address. 1. Strengthening infrastructure Motsoaledi spent a significant portion of his 15-minute time allocation on infrastructure, saying it was 'one of the biggest problems that the public health system encountered'. He referenced the health ombud investigation into allegations of poor management at Helen Joseph Tertiary Hospital in Gauteng, which found problems with infrastructure and human resources at the facility. He noted that South Africa's eleventh academic hospital, the Limpopo Central Hospital, was under construction in Limpopo and was 26% complete. Other hospitals under construction are: Siloam District Hospital in Vhembe, Limpopo — 90% complete; Dihlabeng Regional Hospital in the Free State — 30% complete; Bambisana District Hospital in the Eastern Cape — 82% complete; Zithulele District Hospital in the Eastern Cape — 50% complete; and Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital in North West. 'In addition to the hospitals currently under construction, the National Department of Health has prioritised several key hospital projects placed strategically to strengthen South Africa's public health hospital network, particularly in high-demand areas in Gauteng, but also in underserved areas,' said Motsoaledi. 'These include 17 major hospital projects which have been identified for development. They are in various stages of design and development.' While the budget didn't necessarily cover all the funding needed for the department's 'massive infrastructure injection', Motsoaledi said officials were also speaking to international and local financial institutions about financing options. 2. Reinforcing HIV/AIDS, TB programmes The loss of US foreign development assistance, particularly funds provided for HIV programmes through the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar), has been a major concern in the health sector over the past few months. Experts and activists have called on Motsoaledi and the National Department of Health to develop an emergency funding plan to prevent a loss of ground in the fight against HIV/Aids. 'In the aftermath of the withdrawal of Pepfar, we presented our plans to National Treasury and asked for help. At the same time, we approached other funders, both domestic and globally,' said Motsoaledi. He said the National Treasury had 'come to the party' by allocating R753.5-million. These funds will be used to provide: R590-million for provincial departments of health; R32-million for the National Department of Health; and R132-million for the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) to support health researchers around the country. The R132-million allocation for the SAMRC is part of a R400-million budget the Treasury has designated for health research over the next three years. Motsoaledi said the Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust had each pledged an additional R100-million to South Africa. 'This means we are going to have a total of R600-million offered to researchers, despite Pepfar having pulled the plug on their work,' said Motsoaledi. 'These amounts are intended to cover the most urgent needs, and further allocations may be considered later.' 3. Reversing austerity measures On top of the R64.8-billion budget allocation for health, the National Treasury had earmarked an additional R6.7-billion to 'reverse years of austerity measures which have crippled the public health system', said Motsoaledi. The National Health Council (NHC), made up of Motsoaledi, Deputy Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla, provincial health MECs and representatives of the South African Local Government Association and the military, has elected to use the additional funds to: Hire 1,200 doctors, 200 nurses and 250 other health professionals at a cost of R1.7-billion; Acquire 1.4-million articles for public hospitals, including beds, mattresses, bassinets and new hospital linen at a cost of R1.3-billion; Permanently employ 27,000 community health workers who have been in the system for close to two decades, but were supported through NGOs, at a cost of R1.4-billion; and Start paying accruals that have accumulated over the years in oxygen supply, blood and blood products, laboratory services, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. The NHC originally announced its intention to fund an additional 1,650 public sector health worker posts in April. 4. Reaffirming commitment to NHI In their presentations before the National Assembly, both Motsoaledi and Phaahla reaffirmed the National Department of Health's commitment to implementing the National Health Insurance Act. Motsoaledi said one of the main objectives in the health budget was 'to lay a strong foundation in preparation for improvement of the public health system of our country, in preparation for the National Health Insurance (NHI). There are people who believe that we have no plans, nor inclination to do that. We want them to listen very attentively today.' Phaahla said the department was well on the way to implementing the NHI Act, 'despite the court challenges by those opposed to equity and transformation. When this Act is fully implemented, the aspirations of a preventative health scheme run by the state and free medical care at the point of service, as espoused in the Freedom Charter, will be realised in full.' There are currently six legal challenges to the NHI Act. 5. Parties push back While the ANC expressed its support for Motsoaledi's health budget vote, not all parties were satisfied with the minister's priorities. Key among those raising objections were the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party and the DA. Moshome Motubatse, an MK party MP, said the party opposed the health budget vote. 'This budget fails to provide meaningful healthcare for the people of South Africa,' said Motubatse, noting that the allocation for the 2025/26 financial year was increasing by only 1% when accounting for inflation. 'It represents a cut in real terms, even as the demand [on health] continues to grow.' Dr Karl du Pré le Roux, a former rural doctor, spoke for the DA, the ANC's largest partner in the Government of National Unity. He said that while there was much justified criticism of the inequity between the public and private health systems in South Africa, there were also large disparities in the resourcing of different areas within the public health system. He said managerial incompetence, poor leadership and corruption were among the largest problems facing the public health sector. Du Pré le Roux added that NHI was not the best way to achieve universal healthcare in the country. 'Though your aims are noble, most academics, analysts and ordinary South Africans recognise that the implementation of the NHI legislation by a government health system that is riddled with incompetence, mismanagement and corruption at every level, will be a complete disaster,' said Du Pré le Roux. DM
The Citizen
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Treasury allocates R750m to offset Pepfar funding withdrawal as Motsoaledi tables health budget
Pepfar contributed just 17% to the overall funding for South Africa's HIV/Aids response. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi at Good Hope Chambers in Cape Town on 11 July 2024. Picture: Gallo Images/Misha Jordaan The National Treasury has allocated just over R750 million to the Department of Health to help close the gap left by the withdrawal of the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar). Earlier this year, United States (US) President Donald Trump signed an executive order to freeze foreign aid administered by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), impacting global health programs including Pepfar. The decision has had significant repercussions for South Africa's HIV/Aids and tuberculosis (TB) programmes. According to the government, Pepfar funding accounted for only 17% of the country's HIV response funding. Government reaffirms HIV/Aids commitment after Pepfar withdrawal Speaking in Parliament during a budget vote debate on Wednesday, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi reiterated the government's commitment to eliminating HIV/Aids as a public health threat by 2030. To reach the target of having 95% of HIV-positive people on antiretroviral therapy (ARVs), Motsoaledi said the department needs to reach 1.1 million people. Despite the funding cut, he stressed that the programme continues to make progress. 'I know that the withdrawal of Pepfar funding made some people believe that our massive – actually the world's biggest – HIV counselling, testing and treatment campaign has collapsed or is on the verge of collapsing,' Motsoaledi said in his speech. ALSO READ: Over 8 000 SA healthcare jobs lost – and more could follow – after US Pepfar aid cuts 'I have noticed with regret that in South Africa we seem to like the word 'collapse'. Every time something meets headwinds, it is said to have collapsed.' 'The public health system suffers this tag quite a lot. It is said to have collapsed so many times that I do not know how many lives it has.' 'Anyway, there is no way we are going to allow the world's biggest HIV/Aids Programme to collapse – never,' he continued. The minister told MPs that in addition to requesting help from the National Treasury, the Department of Health also approached other local and international funders. 'Treasury has come to the party,' he remarked. Watch the budget vote debate below: Treasury allocates funds Motsoaledi revealed that Treasury has provided R753 million (R753 528 000) to bolster the department's HIV/Aids initiatives. From this total, R590 million (R590 407 000) will be allocated to provinces through the comprehensive HIV/Aids section of the district health programme grant. Another R32 million (R32 121 000) is earmarked for strengthening the central chronic medicine dispensing and distribution (CCMDD) programme, as well as managing the pharmaceutical supply chain. In addition, R132 million will be allocated to the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) to fund health research efforts. READ MORE: Health experts warn of 'huge disaster' as USAID terminates Pepfar HIV funding in SA Motsoaledi also noted that both the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust have pledged R100 million each for research, on the condition that Treasury matches the combined contribution with R200 million. 'This has been accepted. Treasury is going to add R400 million,' he said. The R400 million will be released over a period of three years, with the first tranche of R132 million allocated in the current financial year. Pepfar contributed close to R8 billion Despite the new allocation, experts say it is not sufficient to fill the gap left by Pepfar's withdrawal. Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism founder and editor-in-chief Mia Malan expressed concern about the shortfall. 'Is the R753 million awarded by Treasury enough to plug the gap of Pepfar funds? Not even close. 'Pepfar awarded $439 537 828 (around R7.9 billion) to SA for [financial year] 2024/2025. [The health department] needed R2.82 billion to plug essential gaps,' Malan said in a social media post on Wednesday. NOW READ: SA funds 90% of its HIV/Aids ARV programme, Motsoaledi reveals amid Pepfar uncertainty
Eyewitness News
08-07-2025
- Health
- Eyewitness News
Motsoaledi concerned by racial discrimination against black healthcare providers by medical schemes
JOHANNESBURG - Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi said he's shocked at the dramatic change in how medical aid schemes and administrators treat black healthcare providers after a report confirmed allegations of racial discrimination and unfair practices. Motsoaledi received the long-awaited Section 59 panel report on Monday. The report exposes procedural unfairness and a power imbalance that disproportionately impacts black medical professionals. Motsoaledi said the complaints filed in 2019 opened his eyes to some of the injustices. READ: Panel finds some medical aid schemes racially discriminated against black service providers 'We didn't know that black doctors are being cheated. As I told you, it's a relationship between a doctor and the scheme - we only knew when they came to lodge a claim with the Council of Medical Schemes. "Me, during our time, these things did not happen because in our time, I told you patients didn't have to sign anything. It just shows that as the system advances, we start to see problems.'
