Healthcare for poor comes first

Improvements in secondary and tertiary hospital capacity should not come at the expense of basic care for the poor, the Health Systems Trust (HST) said yesterday.

The Durban based NGO was responding to Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang's speech, in which she said R2 billion would be spent on upgrading and revitalising hospital facilities next year, including the building of 18 new facilities.

The minister also said inequities in the funding allocated to primary healthcare in different provinces would have to be addressed, with some provinces allocating R50 per person each year, and others R300.

But Antoinette Ntuli, HST information dissemination and equity director, urged her to ensure resources and initiatives are fast-tracked in poor, rural areas. The HST asked for more structure on the HIV/AIDS programme and supported the controversial certificate of need, which aims to realign funds. (Source: Nic Dawes: This Day, 11 February 2004)