How dept makes NHI work

IN FOCUS: MOTSOALEDI ANNOUNCES R64BN HEALTH BUDGET, R200M HIV/AIDS RESEARCH GRANT

- Jarryd Westerdale

The department of health plans to spend billions on recruiting new professionals and infrastructure development over the coming financial year. Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi announced the coming years' objectives during his budget speech in parliament on Tuesday.

He said international organisations will plug the gap left in South Africa's HIV/Aids programmes when, in January, the Trump administration suspended foreign aid, including global health initiatives such as the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar).

Motsoaledi conceded the department did not have "all the money" needed to achieve these objectives, but was in discussions with international and local funders.

The department had been allocated an overall budget of R64 billion for the 2025-26 financial year, he said.

The budget will be used to achieve three main objectives; number one being laying the foundations for the National Health Insurance (NHI).