Pretoria - For the first time in a decade, the Gauteng Department of Health has recorded no over-expenditure in its finances by the end of 2012/13 financial year.
This was revealed by the department during its fourth quarter performance report presentation to the Health Portfolio Committee, which shows that the 2012/13 budget allocation of R27 191 594 was fully spent by the end of the financial year, which ended in March 2013.
“In the 2011/12 financial year, the department overspent its allocation of R25 819 914 by R170 million (actual R25 990 164). The 2012/13 budget allocation of R27 191 594 was fully spent by the end of the financial year - with a reported 99% expenditure (actual R26 834 346), which is the first in this department in over a decade,” the report highlighted.
The only area that reported over-expenditure was Goods and Services, which is attributed to the payment of accruals from previous financial years.
Key areas of improvement include the 100% expenditure of the HIV and Aids Conditional Grant. The grant has seen a 37.3% increase in the number of antiretroviral treatment sites, resulting in an increase in both adults and children receiving antiretroviral treatment - currently 723 000 (600 284 in 2011/12).
The department also reported that 83.5% of patients on TB treatment were cured at the end of six months of treatment. However, the target is to ensure that every person with TB is cured after completion of treatment.
Turnaround strategy
The report also noted progress in recovering monies owed to the department by other agencies, including the Road Accident Fund, Medical Aids and other provinces, which runs into millions.
Meetings have been held and systems put in place to ensure timely recovery of these monies.
The department attributed the positive results to the rigorous implementation of the Gauteng Turnaround Strategy and dedicated staff and leadership, which brought the department's books back to balance.
The department will soon be opening the Health Processing Centre, where all orders and payments will be processed to ensure that service providers are paid within the stipulated 30 days payment terms. – SAnews.gov.za
