Chairperson, in order that the money allocated to health and its various programmes corrects the many failings in the public health services, the IFP recommends fundamental changes in policy. We have and continue to propose, firstly, improved accountability achieved through decentralisation. This must be accompanied by clarity on who has authority to do what and who holds the purse strings. Health governance should be from the bottom up within frameworks to ensure accountability.
Secondly, raise the level of service in the public sector by putting the private sector to work for the public through public-private partnerships that go to the best bidders and not to the best buddies.
Thirdly, administrators in health should not be concerned with bureaucratic over-regulation concerning certification needs, price fixing, foreign doctors and medical schemes. They should rather be concerned with upholding standards, preventing corruption and attracting nurses and doctors through offering appropriate incentives.
Fourthly, the department should act to regulate - for the sake of safety and transparency - medical devices, food labels, complementary medicines and traditional healers.
Finally, there should be independent health ombudspersons and a statutory council should be democratically elected and vigorously independent for the sake of transparency and accountability to the public and not to the Ministry of Health.
The management of TB leaves a lot to be desired, but largely because of the government's changing will towards the management of HIV and Aids. The IFP will support the budget. Thank you.