OPINION: Underinvestment in healthcare infrastructure will cost us in the long run

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, NHI

Investment in public health facilities is crucial as the country weathers storms on various fronts – from drought (water shortages) and flooding putting strain on health infrastructure to a harsh economic climate that makes private healthcare unaffordable to more and more people. Mbali Baduza and Matshidiso Lencoasa assess the investments in infrastructure in the budget and what it means for the planned National Health Insurance system.

OPINION: Underinvestment in healthcare infrastructure will cost us in the long run

OPINION: The billions allocated for infrastructure require more progressive procurement systems and oversight

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, NHI

Spending on public sector infrastructure over the 2023 medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) is estimated at R903 billion and the health sector accounts for 5% of this. The well-documented poor maintenance and oversight of projects, also in the health sector, will require close monitoring of trends across the public sector, particularly where procurement and contracting is concerned, writes Zukiswa Kota.