26 February 2003

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel says this year’s Budget provides for a substantial reinforcement of government’s response to health care challenges in the country.

Delivering his Budget speech in Cape Town on Wednesday, the minister said that over the next three years, an additional R3.3-billion had been added to the provincial equitable share and conditional grants to extend preventative programmes and finance medically appropriate treatment for HIV/Aids.

In addition to this, Manuel said special emphasis had been given to the critical requirements to improve the quality of provincial health services – supplies of medicines, hospitals, and clinic management and staffing.

"We also ensure that over the next three years, 18 additional hospitals will be upgraded and refurbished through the hospital revitalisation programme."

This year alone, provinces will receive R38-billion more to enhance their responses to HIV/Aids and to buy medicines.

Source: BuaNews

MEDIUM TERM BUDGET 2003-06 SA a great place to be: Manuel SA budgets R12bn to fight Aids R3bn for higher education revamp More money for social grants Manuel commends Reserve Bank

BUDGET 2003/04 Measures to boost investment Tax relief for low-income earners SA poised for 3.3% growth More for children, pensioners Education gets the lion's share Boost for black empowerment Additional R3.3bn to fight Aids Budget boost for policing Smokers, drinkers to pay more