KZN Health Department's strategic plans for service delivery amid budget cuts
Image: Supplied
Despite budget cuts, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health intends to stretch every rand to ensure improved service delivery in the 2025 and 2026 financial years.
Nomagugu Simelane, the KZN MEC for Health, delivered her budget speech at the KZN Provincial Legislature on Tuesday. Simelane stated that this financial year marks the start of a five-year strategic plan framework, which runs until 2029 and 2030 financial years.
'For the past six years, our department has faced significant budget cuts, with more than R8 billion lost to its baseline allocation. This deficit in the budget allocation leaves us struggling to meet the healthcare demands of our province in certain areas,' she said.
Simelane said this has severely impacted the department's ability to fill critical posts in nursing, medicine, administrative, and allied health professions. She added that infrastructure development, including a backlog of 250 clinics, has been hindered in some areas, including routine maintenance of some facilities.
She explained that the KZN public health inventory of assets includes 69 hospitals, 22 community health centres (CHC), 589 clinics, 84 EMS bases, 33 forensic mortuaries, nursing colleges, administrative offices, and regional laundries.
'We have a responsibility to ensure that these assets are well-managed, well-taken care of, and that they continue to meet the needs of our communities,' she added.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
Simelane said that despite funding constraints they have started the construction of new clinics in Nyavini, Mpolweni and Mpaphala. She acknowledged that the construction of Mtubatuba CHC has been delayed due to certain administrative processes.
The total health budget is R 56.2 billion which will be distributed as follows; Administration: R1.4 billion
District Health Services : R 28.8 billion
Emergency Medical Services: R1.9 billion
Provincial Hospital Services : R13.9 billion
Central Hospital Services: R6.2 billion
Health Sciences And Training: R1.6 billion
Health Care Support Services: R394 million
Health Facilities Management: R2 billion
Simelane also touched on the dedication and commitment shown by staff and the employee wellness programmes in place.
'We have made staff training and skills development a top priority, having trained thousands of our staff in various programmes. We will welcome dozens of chaplains into public healthcare facilities across the province to offer spiritual and emotional support to patients and healthcare workers, helping to ease trauma and daily stress,' she said.
Simelane said the Emergency Medical Services response times will be improved when it comes to the evacuation of the sick and injured, as well as inter-facility transfers. She said the department has allocated funds to procure 50 new ambulances and 10 thirty-five-seater planned patient transport buses.
The department is also expected to contract 130 private GPs to improve the coverage of clinics by doctors. She said the department will also continue to fund psychiatrists to clear forensic mental health backlogs.
'We have noted the recent public outcry regarding the non-employment of doctors, and we fully understand the frustration expressed by many within the profession and broader society,' she said.
Dr Imraan Keeka, chairperson of the KZN Health Portfolio Committee, said the health department has made significant strides in addressing challenges facing the province.
'The road to health equity remains long and we expect to encounter obstacles along the way. The withdrawal of funding by the United States of America to provincial health programmes is a setback,' he said.
Andile Biyela, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) MPL, said Simelane had spoken honestly about the challenges which was the first step to remedy. He said political parties may differ in ideology but when it comes to saving lives there is only the right way.
'Where the department is not doing well they must be called out and when they are doing well they must be commended. The budget invites collaboration,' he said.
zainul.dawood@inl.co.za
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
44 minutes ago
- The Star
National Health Minister calls for a shift in tobacco perception
The fight against tobacco is on, according to National Health Minister Doctor Aaron Motsoaledi. Speaking at the KwaZulu-Natal Doctors Healthcare 29th Annual Medical Conference in Durban recently, Motsoaledi said it was time governments viewed tobacco as a health issue and not an economic one, as ultimately it did more harm than good. He offered a global perspective, pointing to countries that had made strides in combating infectious diseases while failing to curb non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. During his address to medical specialists, the minister said they all would concur that even at university exams, when one didn't know the answer to what the causes of a particular condition were, if they wrote down smoking, they had a chance of being correct and gaining a mark. He said a comprehensive Tobacco Bill would impact chronic condition numbers in South Africa and even lighten the load on our healthcare system as NHI gets underway. The medical conference also recognised outstanding medical professionals. Among the award winners were specialists from Lenmed: Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre, who were acknowledged for their TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) programme.
IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
National Health Minister calls for a shift in tobacco perception
IN SAFE HANDS: Award-winning cardiologists from the Lenmed: Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre are Doctors Shiraz Gafoor and Ismail Soosiwala (centre). They are seen with Doctor Morgan Mkhatshwa (left), Lenmed's head of Social Impact, and Niresh Bechan, the hospital's CEO, at the KwaZulu-Natal Doctors Healthcare 29th Annual Medical Conference held at Coastlands Convention Centre Image: Supplied The fight against tobacco is on, according to National Health Minister Doctor Aaron Motsoaledi. Speaking at the KwaZulu-Natal Doctors Healthcare 29th Annual Medical Conference in Durban recently, Motsoaledi said it was time governments viewed tobacco as a health issue and not an economic one, as ultimately it did more harm than good. He offered a global perspective, pointing to countries that had made strides in combating infectious diseases while failing to curb non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. During his address to medical specialists, the minister said they all would concur that even at university exams, when one didn't know the answer to what the causes of a particular condition were, if they wrote down smoking, they had a chance of being correct and gaining a mark. He said a comprehensive Tobacco Bill would impact chronic condition numbers in South Africa and even lighten the load on our healthcare system as NHI gets underway. The medical conference also recognised outstanding medical professionals. Among the award winners were specialists from Lenmed: Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre, who were acknowledged for their TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) programme. Lead cardiologists Doctors Shiraz Gafoor and Ismail Soosiwala received the award on behalf of their team that was responsible for the only accredited TAVI programme in Africa. The programme, which has been accredited by the American College of Cardiology, offers high-risk patients a less invasive treatment option to open-heart surgery. Doctor Morgan Mkhatshwa, head of Social Impact at Lenmed, said they were happy to be recognised for their efforts in cardiac care. The KwaZulu-Natal Doctors Healthcare's (KZNDHC) chairman, Professor Morgan Chetty, said shifts in healthcare did require preventative and innovative solutions, many of which would be digital and data-driven. Doctor William Mapham, founder of the Vula App, a pioneering platform linking primary healthcare workers in rural settings to specialist doctors, was recognised for his innovation. Also among the awardees was Professor Ncoza Dlova, dean and the first African woman to head the University of KwaZulu-Natal's School of Clinical Medicine, and general practitioner Doctor Unben Pillay, CEO of the Independent Practitioners Association Foundation (IPAF). DAILY NEWS
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
KZN launches anti-vaping drive as youth addiction sparks health alarm
KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has sounded the alarm over the increasing use of vaping products among young people, announcing the launch of a province-wide anti-vaping campaign as part of the Department of Health's 2025/26 budget plan. The Witness reports that, delivering her budget speech at the provincial legislature in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday, Simelane said the campaign seeks to counter widespread myths that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking, especially among schoolchildren. 'We are deeply concerned about the alarming rise in vaping among youth. 'Many are misled into believing that vaping is harmless, when in fact it poses serious and real health risks,' said Simelane. 'This growing trend represents a silent epidemic that threatens the well-being of our youth. 'The problem is worsened by aggressive marketing that falsely portrays vaping as a safer alternative to smoking,' she added. She warned of the health risks associated with vaping, including addiction, lung damage and elevated heart rate — effects often downplayed in marketing that falsely promotes vaping as safe. The campaign will be rolled out through school outreach programmes and community dialogues, aiming to debunk misinformation and equip young people with science-based facts. With her speech, the KZN Department of Health (DoH) has joined other health organisations like the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in raising the alarm over youth vaping. In May, Cansa criticised the tobacco industry for 'deliberately marketing vaping products to teenagers and younger children'. This year, the organisation marked World No Tobacco Day, which falls on May 31, under the theme 'Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing the Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products' in a bid to highlight how the industry promotes these products to younger audiences by emphasising compact designs and appealing flavours. Cansa's tobacco control programme co-ordinator and social worker, Minenhle Dlamini, refuted claims that vaping is a harmless alternative to smoking, citing mounting evidence of serious health risks. These risks include nicotine addiction, lung damage and the increased likelihood of moving onto traditional tobacco products. 'A new generation of nicotine-dependent individuals is being created with seemingly innocent flavoured vapes and sleek, tech-inspired designs targeting young consumers,' Dlamini said. WHO has warned that vaping is often a gateway to smoking, with e-cigarette use increasing the uptake of conventional cigarettes, particularly among youth, by nearly three times. While stressing that it is too early to fully understand the long-term impact of vaping, WHO said there is compelling evidence that vapes are harmful to health. In some cases, it argued, they pose a greater threat than traditional cigarettes. 'While long-term health effects are not fully known, we do know that they generate toxic substances, some of which are known to cause cancer and some that increase the risk of heart and lung disorders. 'Electronic delivery systems have also been linked to a number of physical injuries, including burns from explosions or malfunctions when the products are substandard or tampered with by users,' it said, adding that accidental exposure of children to vape fluid poses serious risks, as devices may leak or children may swallow the poisonous liquid. Simelane said the health education drive forms part of a wider call for residents to take personal ownership of their health, the overarching theme of her R56.2b budget presentation. Another notable initiative is the introduction of a chaplaincy programme — a first for the province — which will see chaplains deployed to public healthcare facilities to provide emotional and spiritual support to both patients and healthcare workers. 'These chaplains will ease the trauma and stress endured daily in our health facilities by offering comfort and a listening ear,' Simelane said. She acknowledged that while the department has plans to expand healthcare access and strengthen services, these ambitions are heavily constrained by limited funds. She said the department will procure 200 vehicles, including mobile clinics and ambulances, to improve emergency response. A panel of licensed private emergency medical services providers will also be appointed to assist with patient transfers and ease pressure on the state's ageing fleet. The MEC said posts for unemployed medical professionals, such as post-community service doctors, will be advertised soon following commitments from national ministers that funding is available. To address healthcare shortages in rural communities, new clinics are under construction in Nyavini (Ugu), Mpolweni (uMgungundlovu) and Mpaphala (King Cetshwayo). Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
