Mkhize tables R62 bn budget for 2021/22

Mkhize tables R62 bn budget for 2021/22

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has tabled a R62.5 billion budget for the 2021/22 financial year.

Zweli Mkhize 2021 vaccine briefing

Health expenditure is expected to increase by 0,8% per year, from R58.1 billion in 2020/21 to R59.4 billion in 2023/24.


Mkhize appeared before the National Assembly on Thursday, where members of Parliament debated the budget vote.


The bulk of the budget is expected to be directed towards the prevention and treatment of communicable and non-communicable disease, with more than R32 million set aside.


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More than R21 million will be pumped towards hospital systems, while R6 million will be pumped towards human resources.


"Despite the challenging reductions to the budget, I believe we have stretched our resources through strengthened relations with multilateral organisations such as the UNAIDS and UNICEF and key investment partners, such as Global Fund, PEPFAR, the Clinton Health Access Initiative and the Solidarity Fund to ensure that health services in this country continue to advance," said Mkhize.


Mkhize added the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) remains one of governments main objectives.


At least R1.3 million was allocated to NHI in the upcoming financial year.


"Following the introduction of the NHI Bill to Parliament in July 2019, the Portfolio Committee on Health convened public hearings in all provinces during the latter part of 2019. These public hearings provided a platform for ordinary South Africans to be heard and contribute toward the shaping of the NHI Bill.


"The Department of Health attended all the public hearings to process the feedback from community members on the details of the NHI Bill and took the opportunity to attend to service delivery issues that were raised by communities.


The hearings were due to progress to parliamentary submissions in 2020 but the Covid-19 pandemic brought these to a halt.


Meanwhile, Mkhize lauded the country's efforts in achieving the development.


"To address the barriers to accessing health care, NDoH is developing a Social and Behavioral Change Communication strategy which aims to mitigate stigmatisation and promote proactive health seeking behaviour. This will necessarily involve mobilising technical partners, civil society organisations and funding agencies."


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