Staff Reporter
The Free State Department of Health has been forced to implement major budget cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic with some programmes losing close to 10 percent of their initial allocations.
Health MEC Montseng Tsiu told the provincial Legislature when she presented her nearly R12.5 billion supplementary budget vote during a virtual sitting Friday that several important programmes have been set aside to focus on fighting the “invisible enemy”.
“Priority is now given to activities geared to ensure our effective COVID-19 response,” Tsiu said.
“The situation is further aggravated by the challenges on social determinants on health which need some improvement and are unfortunately prevalent in many areas of our province,” she added.
The MEC said the Administration Programme has been allocated R288.5 million following a 5.7 percent budget cut.
The budget for the Health Sciences and Training Programme has been cut by 9.2 percent to leave it with about R310.4 million.
Health Care Support Services is allocated R197 million after a 1.2 percent budget cut.
The budget for the Health Facilities Programme now stands at about R613 million after a 5.5 percent reduction.
Tsiu said the cut in the administration budget is expected to negatively impact on governance, particularly in the areas of auditing, risk management, internal control, supply chain management, human resources as well as goods and services.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has a serious impact on training and development as training institutions like the Free State School of Nursing, Emergency Medical Services College and Training and Development Centre can no longer have students physically attend lectures and training . . .” she said.
The Health Care Support Services which includes pharmaceutical services, laundry services, orthotic and prosthetic services could face challenges given its key function of providing medicine supplies and consumables.
Most of the funds for the Health Facilities Programme have been earmarked for the establishment of a new field hospital at the Bloemfontein Showgrounds.