Agb Adjunkspeaker, dit is reeds vir 'n hele aantal jare duidelik dat hierdie departement as omstrede beskou word in die Parlement deur verskillende partye wat jaar na jaar teen hierdie begrotingspos stem.
Dit moet die vraag laat ontstaan: Maar is daar dalk 'n fout, of is daar nie 'n fout nie? Waarom sou dit die geval wees? Dit is ook 'n feit dat, as gevolg van die agb Minister se beleid die afgelope klompie jare, honderde, indien nie duisende, van ons gesondheidspersoneel, dokters en verpleegsters die land verlaat het om elders 'n heenkome te gaan vind. Die vraag is: Hoekom het dit gebeur? Dit is ironies dat die departement juis nou probeer om weer daardie kundiges na Suid-Afrika terug te lok omdat ons gesondheidstelsel daardie mense nodig het en ook dat dit ons 'n klomp geld gekos het om hulle op te lei.
Die probleme wat in hierdie departement bestaan, kom jaar na jaar voor en ek wil in alle liefde dalk vir die agb President adviseer: Dis miskien tyd vir 'n verandering van Minister hier. Ons gaan teen die begrotingspos stem. [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Dr C P MULDER: Hon Madam Deputy Speaker, it has been evident for a number of years that this department is regarded as controversial by various parties in Parliament who have not supported this Budget Vote year after year.
It has to raise the question: Is there perhaps something wrong or not? Why would that be the case? It is also a fact that, as a result of the hon Minister's policy over the past few years, hundreds, if not thousands, of our health workers, doctors and nurses have left the country to seek refuge elsewhere. The question is: Why did this happen? The irony is that the department is now trying to lure those very same experts back to South Africa, because the health system needs their services and also because it cost us a pretty penny to train them.
The problems that exist in this department surface year after year and perhaps I should advise the hon President, with all due respect: Maybe the time has come for a change of Minister here. We are not supporting the Budget Vote. [Interjections.]]