Johannesburg – The Gauteng government has set aside almost R1 billion to look after the needs of psychiatric health patients following the death of more than 100 patients last year.
Finance MEC Barbara Creecy announced on Tuesday that, over the next three years, R893.8 million would be allocated to the needs of psychiatric patients.
She made the announcement when she tabled her R108bn budget for the legislature for this year.
She added that she did not overlook the interests of other vulnerable communities such as the aged, people with disabilities and children when she allocated R4.2bn to social development.
The psychiatric patients were catered for in the overall R40.2bn awarded to healthcare and it became apparent that the provincial government wants to avoid a recurrence of the Life Esidimeni disaster.
This was after a number of patients were removed from Life Esidimeni and taken to NGOs, which did not have legal papers or the required expertise.
The Gauteng government has set aside R1 billion to look after the needs of psychiatric patients. Picture: Supplied
In the medium term (the next three years), R893.8m has been allocated to support patients with mental health conditions, the MEC said.
“As the provincial treasury, we are committed to supporting the Health Department in implementing the recommendations of the Health Ombud Report.”
Creecy said the provincial government would also utilise its own provincial fund to help families of the victims of the Life Esidimeni tragedy.
According to her, those funds would be distributed to the families once the investigations into the tragedy had been completed.
Creecy maintained that they would use the R40bn budget to improve the provision of health services to the citizens, including restoring public confidence in the the public healthcare system.
Other priorities include:
R9bn to enhance service delivery outcomes in district hospitals, community health clinics and community-based centres.
R7.3bn for Steve Biko Hospital, Charlotte Maxeke Hospital and others.
R3.7bn to support the treatment and prevention of HIV/Aids and tuberculosis.
R990m for emergency medical services.
R924m for medicine and medical supplies for the appointment of key personnel in the department.
New personnel, according to Creecy, would include psychologists and psychiatrists to look after psychiatric patients.
This was endorsed by the new Health MEC, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, when she took office on February 6, following the resignation of Qedani Mahlangu.
In an exclusive interview with The Star at the time, Ramokgopa emphasised that she would prioritise the welfare of psychiatric patients and on Tuesday Creecy gave her the financial muscle to carry out her plan.
Creecy also considered the interests of the aged and disabled when she allocated R4.2bn to the Department of Social Department under MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza.
She allocated R275m for services for Gauteng’s aged, which includes resourcing 264 community-based care facilities that provide support to 23404 senior citizens and of which Creecy said R1bn would be allocated to supporting early-childhood development centres in Gauteng communities.
R99.6m was allocated for services to people with disabilities which includes implementation of independent living programmes.