GAUTENG HEALTH EXPENDITURE CONTINUES TO BE WITHIN BUDGET

THE financial performance of the Gauteng Department of Health is continuing to show signs of recovery with the department managing to remain within budget at the end of the third quarter of the 2013/14 financial year.

By the end of December 2013, the department had spent 73% (R20 888 billion) of its total budget of R28 770 billion budget, according to the third quarter performance report to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. Compared to the budgeted payments of the third quarter, the department spent less by 1.3%.

Gauteng Health MEC Hope Papo said: "The department's quarterly financial performance is consistent with the expenditure recorded at the end of the last financial year which ended on the 31st March 2013 where the department recorded no over expenditure for the first time in a decade.

"The 2012/13 budget allocation was fully spent by the end of the financial year - with a reported 99% total expenditure. The only area that reported an over expenditure was Goods and Services which can be attributed to the payment of accruals from previous financial years."

The third quarter expenditure has again shown an over-expenditure on goods and services as well as transfers to municipalities as a result of accruals.

"The financial recovery has been achieved largely as a result of the rigorous implementation of the 2012-14 Turnaround Strategy which is bringing the department's books back to balance" Papo said.

He added that more than half (58.69%) of the procurement budget was spent on the broad based black economic empowerment enterprises. Approximately 31% of procurement opportunities were awarded to women owned enterprises as compared to the 24% reported in quarter 1 and 20.94% in quarter 2 respectively.

Essential medicines availability at the MSD have increased from 75% in the 1st quarter to 82.33% in the quarter under review.

Performance has improved in many more areas as compared to the same period in the previous financial year.

Areas whose performance has improved significantly as compared to the previous financial year include the following decrease in severe malnutrition cases, diarrhoea and pneumonia cases.There was an improvement in Vitamin A supplementation for 12 -60 months, male condom distribution rate and anti natal care visits before 20 weeks.

TB cure rates have also improved and the introduction of gene-expert machines in 15 hospitals has enabled faster diagnosis and higher detection of TB cases

Through the implementation of the Turn Around strategy, support systems and risks are continuously being assessed to ensure that governance and service delivery is not compromised.

Statement issued by Simon Zwane, Gauteng Department of Health, February 24 2014

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