Deputy Chairperson, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, members and guests, indeed the health standards of the Health department of government and the health departments in all the provinces are very important for the people of South Africa if we are serious about service delivery.
In 2010, the department identified four key areas to focus on, namely: increasing life expectancy, combating HIV/Aids, decreasing the burden of disease from tuberculosis, and improving health systems' effectiveness.
The Department of Health received R21,5 billion for the 2010-11 financial year, compared to the budget of 2009-10, which was R18,4 billion. This shows an increase of 4,65% of the total national Budget, which represents 9,36% in real terms. Chairperson, 94,9% of the department's budget goes to transfers and subsidies, 4,9% to current expenditure, and 0,2% to payments for capital assets. This means that the national Department of Health must play a pivotal role in the monitoring and evaluation of effectiveness of implementation and performance in provinces. The national Department of Health must have an IT system with a dashboard programme which shows how, when, and on whom monies have been spent, the outcome performance regarding quality, and the effectiveness of service delivery.
This will arrest ineffectiveness in service delivery, like the previous shortfall in antiretroviral drugs in the Free State; the underspending of budgets; the deaths of babies, like in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng; and the nondelivery of medicine to depots, hospitals and clinics, etc.
Management and leadership across the department were identified as a weakness. Yes, the departments across the provinces have started with the upgrading of senior management, but we must take cognisance of the fact that only fit-for-purpose and competent staff must be employed in vacant posts advertised. No unfit and unqualified persons should be appointed, or political deployments made. This must not be the criterion to fill posts.
Deputy Chairperson, tuberculosis is an illness which can be cured, but too many people are diagnosed with tuberculosis. An increase of 948 per 100 000 incidents has been identified, as well as a rate of 1 in 105 people in South Africa. A TB cure rate of 64% as against a target of 65% was achieved. I would like to express much appreciation to the department in this regard.
Tuberculosis is very much related to poverty, no food or hunger, joblessness or low income, and negligence in regard to health. We must concentrate on the prevalence and giving support to families in difficult circumstances.
The community development workers employed by government, provinces and municipalities must concentrate on the comprehensive gathering of information on people's quality of life and their health status, and supply it to our community health clinics. Then an ample number of staff must be available to assist with food supplements and other support immediately after their receiving the survey done by them.
The 25,9% growth in the HIV/Aids budget is significant and highly appreciated in the combating of this pandemic. Deputy Chairperson, the 29,3% prevalence rate, according to the 2008 National Antenatal Sentinel HIV and Syphilis Prevalence Survey is still too high, and programmes in regard to this issue must be more focused, and must be intensified.
We must be mindful of the fact that the life expectancy of babies and mothers can only improve with our supporting the mothers' rights from the start of and even before pregnancy. A healthy mother gives birth to a healthy baby. Our hospital and maternity wards should be high quality. Staff, nurses and doctors must be high-quality health professionals. Our equipment and other support materials should also be high quality. If we fail, then loss, sadness, trauma and negative emotions are inevitable.
A lot of savings can be made on expenditure, such as on food during internal meetings, accommodation, and flight arrangements, to name just a few. This has already been done by one of our sister departments in government.
Deputy Chairperson, our Health department must succeed in all its endeavours to create a healthy, competent and excellent health sector in South Africa. If we are serious about service delivery, then we must speed up this quality health system. Thank you. [Applause.]