Johannesburg - The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development will this financial year establish 15 additional Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) sites across the province.
Tabling the department's R16.58 billion budget for the 2009/10 financial year on Monday, MEC for Health and Social Development, Qedani Mahlangu said there will be an increase from 69 to 84 ART sites in Gauteng.
"The number of people receiving ART at these sites will also be increased from 100 000 to 250 000," the MEC said.
The budget will also focus on the strengthening of management at district level to ensure that appropriate support is provided to clinics, community health centres and district hospitals.
MEC Mahlangu also announced that services will be improved drastically at the Chris Hani Baragwanath, Charlotte Maxeke- Johannesburg Academic, Dr George Mukhari, Steve Biko Academic, Tembisa, Natalspruit, Helen Joseph, Leratong, Kalafong and Tambo Memorial hospitals.
"These services will include improving staffing levels, procurement of basic and essential equipment, improving working conditions for staff, reducing waiting times and drug supply," MEC Mahlangu said.
She said the department has implemented immediate interventions to improve the delivery of health services across the province which includes extending hours of operations at a number of clinics and increasing the number of Community Health Centers rendering services on a 24 hour basis from 17 to 20.
The department has also reduced waiting times at clinics by issuing three month stock of medication to stable chronic patients.
