Gauteng Health fails to spend R738 million

23 May 2016

The Gauteng Health Department failed to spend R738 million of its R34.6 billion budget in the 2015/16 financial year that ended on 31 March this year.

This is revealed in the Fourth Quarterly report of the Gauteng Health Department which was considered last week by the Gauteng Legislature's Health Committee.

It is distressing that so much money was not spent in the face of pressing needs in Gauteng hospitals and clinics.

The worst underspends were as follows:

District Health Services - R809 million unspent

Provincial Health Services - R209 million unspent

Emergency Medical Services - R146 million unspent

Health Facilities Management - R95 million unspent 

These underspends were partly offset by a massive R568 million overspend in Central Hospital Services and R64 million on Administration.

This shows very poor control over spending in a department that is notorious for waste and inefficiency.

The department needs to improve in spending its budget effectively to provide quality health care.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, 23 May 2016