22 February 2007

South Africa will spend an extra R5.3-billion over the next three years on improving the salaries of doctors and nurses and boosting recruitment levels in the public health sector.

Delivering his 2007/08 Budget speech in Cape Town on Wednesday, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said the government planned to increase the number of healthcare workers in the country by about 30 000 over the next five years.

The Department of Health will also receive an additional R1.7-billion over the next three years for the treatment and care of people living with HIV/Aids. Last year's Budget made provision for the treatment and care of about 250 000 people living with HIV/Aids.

"We are likely to reach that figure in the next few months," Manuel told Parliament.

Manuel said spending on dedicated HIV/Aids programmes by the health, education and social development departments would exceed R5-billion by 2009/10.

South Africa's hospital revitalisation programme will also receive an extra R1-billion, taking total spending on this programme to R6.8-billion over the next three years. In addition, the sector received R1-billion for the modernisation of tertiary services, with particular emphasis on diagnostic equipment.

Source: BuaNews

	SA cashes in on sound policies SA increases social spending Budget highlights 2007 South Africa's Aids action plan WHO commends SA on health plan SA nurses in UK urged to return Health care in South Africa

	Budget 2007  South African Treasury  Department of Health

Social Development Find out more about initiatives by the government, business and civil society to improve the lives of all South Africans.

Aids Helpline 0800 012 322 Frightened, confused by Aids? South Africa's Aids Helpline offers toll-free, multi-lingual assistance from trained counsellors accessing the latest data through a computerised call centre. Backed up by the Aids Helpline website.