Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae has assured that her government, in collaboration with the national Department of Health, will explore innovative solutions to prevent job losses in the province’s health sector.
This follows the withdrawal of a United States (US) foreign aid grant to South Africa which has supported critical health programs.
Delivering her State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Friday, Letsoha-Mathae emphasised that efforts are underway to mitigate the impact and ensure continued healthcare service delivery despite the funding shortfall.
“Many of our strategic partners have indicated that funding from USAID [United States Agency for International Development] has been stopped. This poses an immediate threat of job losses to about 725 healthcare workers, social workers, data capturers, cleaners and many others.
“We will find innovative ways working with national Department of Health to mitigate the impact of this decision,” she said.
The Premier emphasised that no inclusive growth would be realised without quality healthcare and her administration was doing its best to improve healthcare quality in government facilities.
She added that less professionals mean less provision of services of which the province cannot afford.
“That is the reason why, last year, we employed 1 232 healthcare professionals that include doctors and nurses. More will be employed in the next financial year.
“The 1 112 contract workers employed to ease the COVID-19 health pressures, whose contracts expired in October 2024, were re-employed in January this year. Their return is a crucial step in increasing the provision of health services,” she said.
The Premier highlighted that the province had procured more Renal Dialysis Machines and installed Renal Water Purification Systems in some of its hospitals.
At the Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Regional Hospital in Qwaqwa, six dialysis machines were commissioned in this financial year. A Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit was delivered and will be installed and commissioned upon the completion of construction and prefiltration.
“At Boitumelo Regional Hospital, ten dialysis machines, two mobile Reverse Osmosis, and a Reverse Osmosis Plant are in clinical use. Importantly, availability of medicines in our health facilities is above 90%,” she said.
Due to increasing population, urbanisation and changing lifestyles, the Premier noted that the health burden is increasing, putting pressure on the available facilities.
She announced that healthcare facilities that are under construction will be completed in the 2025/26 financial year. These include the Thandanani Clinic in Welkom, Rheederpark Clinic in Welkom, Borwa Clinic in Tweespruit, Clocolan Clinic in Clocolan, Dinaane Clinic in Thaba-Nchu, and Valrok Clinic in Brandfort.
“We are also upgrading hospitals, laboratories, neonatal facilities, renal units, maternity wards, pharmacies, mortuaries, theatres and heli-stops. We have taken note of particular challenges at the Bloemfontein Government Mortuary and plans are afoot to remedy the situation,” she said.
The Premier further announced that the following health facilities now render a 24-hour service: MUCPP in Mangaung (Maternity and Emergency Services); Heidedal Clinic in Mangaung (Emergency Services); PAX Clinic in Viljoenskroon (Emergency Services); Bolata Clinic in Qwaqwa (Maternity Services) and the Lesedi Clinic in Kroonstad will be operational from April 2025 (Maternity and Emergency Services). - SAnews.gov.za
