“Our budget allocation amounts to R5 893 603 (five billion eight hundred and ninety-three million six hundred and three rands), inclusive of conditional grants. The compensation of employees constitutes 57% of the budget allocation of the department and is R3 385 568 (three billion three hundred and eighty-five thousand five hundred and sixty-eight rands). A total of R1 879 042 Billion is the collective budget constituted by the six conditional grants in the department.
It is imperative to note that the Department incurred ZERO (R’0) Unauthorised Expenditure compared to R234 million of the prior year. Furthermore, reduced ACCRUALS with R275 million from R590 million of the prior financial year.
Whilst on the hand we are able to reflect on the considerable gains and achievements we have accomplished thus far, we are also equally aware of our new commitments for this new financial year. 

On Human Resource, we registered significant progress towards finalising the organisational structure for the Department and we can therefore report that the process is in its final stages for concurrence and approval from Department of Public Service and Administration.
In the previous financial year, the Department has appointed a total of 589 permanent appointments and 747 contract appointments. In addition to this, we renewed the contracts for 750 COVID-19 Brigades and 880 Health Facility Assistants. These contracts have been renewed to ensure continuity and further improvement in our services.
An internal advertisement will be placed before end of next week, for the recruitment of 249 permanent support staff ranging from; housekeeper supervisors, laundry supervisors, cleaners, porters, general assistants, drivers, registry clerks, food services aids, admin clerks, mortuary assistants, artisans, human resource and supply chain management staff.
The advertisement for hospital boards and clinic committees will be publicized within the current month of June. We are encouraging members of society to nominate able and willing participants.

About ninety-nine (99) Post Basic Pharmacy Assistants will be qualifying next month. Upon conclusion of their studies, they will be absorbed and trained on our RX Solutions System and this will enable us to keep a close eye on the levels of our stock as well as the rate of utilisation.
We will also in due course issue 32 bursaries in the area of Orthotic and Prosthetic as a discipline for our young people to acquire the requisite skills, get gainful employment and contribute to the wellbeing of our society.
On Connectivity, we intend to achieve 85% which is a total of connecting 135 from a target of 159 facilities in this financial year (this is an incremental target).We have also implemented a Computer Aided Dispatch System within the EMS Call Centres. The system has gone live at the end of May 2022 and implementation is rolling at the call centres.
On EMS, in a space of two years we have placed at least 65 ambulances in service. The department is in a process of procuring another 54 vehicles consisting of 32 ambulances, 20 (4x4) ambulances with off-road capability and two additional patient transporters for delivery prior end of this financial year. For the 2022/23 financial year we have budgeted about R 413 Million for the Emergency Medical Services.
On Infrastructure, in this financial year, we will begin with the construction of the new Schmidtsdrif Clinic in the Siyancuma local municipality.
On 30th of June, next week, we will be opening the new Heuningvlei Community Healthcare Centre (CHC) at a cost of R35 million in the Joe Morolong Local Municipality.

Boegoeberg Clinic in ZF Mqcawu District will also be completed at a cost of R25 million by the end of June 2022.
The Siyathemba Clinic in Kathu, Groenwater Clinic near Postmasburg and the Ntsikilelo Clinic close to Upington will be launched before the end of August 2022.We also highlighted that the construction of Bankhara Bodulong Clinic will be finalized by the end of the third quarter of the 2022/23 financial year also at a cost of R25 million. Whilst,
The Nursing College & EMS student accommodation project is estimated to reach completion by the end of the fourth quarter at a cost of R160 million.
On HIV and AIDS, the Province recorded a reduction of clients on treatment for HIV and AIDS from 66 439 to 61 713 by end of December 2021. To this effect, we have budgeted R 779 753 million for the 2022/23 financial year and we are also working on rolling out a much improved social and behavioral communication to bring about changes favourable to reduce TB and HIV prevalence.” - MEC Lekwene’s opening remarks