The Gauteng Department of Health has cut the budget for goods and services for this financial year by R780 million.

BUDGET CUT

The Gauteng department of health budget was R65 billion, and they have decided to cut it by R780 million. DA’s Gauteng Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) Alan Fuchs the budget cut will affect medicine, consumables and laboratory services. "It is negligent that the services that largely determine the quality of health care and customer satisfaction are reduced. Patients? access to medicine, laboratory services, and consumables at public hospitals will be affected by budgetary constraints, which shows a total lack of commitment to quality health care," he said.

SHORTSIGHTED 

Fuchs said that this shortsighted move flies in the face of the principle of efficient utilisation of resources as required by the Auditor General (AG). "This department has had to consistently defend itself against allegations of mismanagement, criminal negligence, and corruption. This budgetary cut lends credence to the view that the department is, in fact, a threat to the well-being of Gauteng residents. "In the event of a genuine budget deficit, a caring Democratic Alliance (DA) government would reallocate the budget from less important line items. But would never put the lives of residents at risk by reducing life-saving medicine or consumables," he said.

OPPOSITION BENCHES

Fuchs further said that this suggested that in the ANC kept the DA on the opposition benches because they were too afraid that their misdeeds and incompetence would be exposed. "We will robustly hold them to account by asking the department to explain how they will overcome the negative impact of essential medicines that are not available to patients,? said Fuchs.