Page 188 - Demo

Estimates of the Provincial Revenue and Expenditure (EPRE) %u2013 2025/26 Financial Year1.4 Main Services The main services provided by the Department of Health are as follows: %uf0b7 Primary Health Care for preventing illnesses and providing basic curative health services, including HIV, AIDS, STI and TB, Maternal Child and Women%u2019s Health and Nutrition, and infectious disease control. These services are provided through the District Health Services programme, which also includes coroner and other community health services. In response to Primary Health Care (PHC), a total of R8.554 billion is set aside in 2025/26 and R27.319 billion over the 2025 MTEF. %uf0b7 Hospital Services %u2013 district, regional and provincial hospitals cater for patients who require admission for treatment at the general practitioner and specialist level. There are also specialised hospitals that cater for patients suffering from TB, mental illnesses, and patients who require long-term nursing care. Tertiary hospitals provide the facilities and expertise needed for sophisticated medical procedures. To achieve this, a total of R16.594 billion is set aside in 2025/26 and R49.970 billion over the 2025 MTEF. %uf0b7 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provides emergency care and transport for victims of trauma, road traffic accidents, and emergency medical and obstetric conditions. Planned patient transport is provided for inter-hospital transfer, while indigent patients are transported between clinics and hospitals. A total of R1.638 billion is set aside in 2025/26 and R5.038 billion over the 2025 MTEF. %uf0b7 Forensic pathology services render forensic pathology and medico-legal services. A total of R107.978 million is set aside in 2025/26 and R320.161 million over the 2025 MTEF. %uf0b7 Health Sciences and Training develops a capable health workforce for the Eastern Cape (EC) health system. A total of R1.186 billion is set aside in 2025/26 and R3.496 billion over the 2025 MTEF. %uf0b7 Other services - Health Care Support services to ensure efficient health services as well as overall management and administration of public healthcare within the province. Also included are transversal health services (orthopaedic and prosthetic, rehabilitation, laboratory, social work and radiological services). In response to this, a total of R248.101 million is set aside in 2025/26 and R762.531 million over the 2025 MTEF. %uf0b7 Health Facilities Management %u2013 upgrading and revitalization as well as maintenance of existing facilities including provision of appropriate health care equipment. The budget for minor maintenance has been decentralised to the district hospitals. A total of R 1.454 billion is set aside in 2025/26 and R4.330 billion over the 2025 MTEF. 1.5 Demands for and expected changes in the services There is still unequal access to healthcare in remote rural communities, adversely impacting them. The Province is grappling with a shifting quadruple burden of disease as individuals are living longer amidst challenges stemming from poor social determinants of health in certain municipalities. The department continues to face service delivery backlogs post-COVID19, resulting in numerous patients being lost to follow-up in critical programs such as HIV/AIDS and TB. Additionally, there are delays in elective surgical procedures that were postponed during the pandemic. The quality of care remains a concern, with numerous complaints from our communities and negative media coverage regarding the care experience at our facilities. These issues encompass patient safety, facility cleanliness, waiting times, drug availability, infection prevention and control, and staff demeanour. The current service delivery platform is financially unsustainable and requires alignment with an NHI,based system. The focus on healthcare infrastructure has shifted towards the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing facilities, alongside the construction of new facilities to enhance healthcare accessibility. It is imperative to institutionalize our systems at the facility level by ensuring prompt 167