DOH says delays in national budget framework stall critical projects

JOHANNESBURG - The Health Department says delays in the finalisation of the national budget framework are stalling critical projects, leaving public health facilities under resourced and overwhelmed.

Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla toured the Olivenhoutbosch Clinic on Tuesday, with Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko amid community outcry over medicine, staff shortages and long waiting times.

ALSO READ: Health Dept admits it’s overwhelmed, obligated to treat foreign nationals

Speaking on the sidelines of the visit, Phaahla says a range of interventions from infrastructure upgrades to the hiring of additional clinical staff have been put on hold due to the delayed approval of the country’s medium-term budget framework.

This has directly impacted the Health Department’s ability to scale services, procure medical stock and stabilise workloads across the system.

Clinics like Olivenhoutbosch, which are seeing growing patient numbers due to population shifts and migrant communities, are bearing the brunt of this funding uncertainty.

While the provincial health budget remains fully allocated on paper, the department says releases are slow, leaving facilities underfunded in practical terms.

Phaahla says unless the budget framework is finalised soon, service delivery targets across several provinces may be missed, further compounding pressure on an already fragile public health system.