Pretoria - An amount of R5.8 billion has been allocated to the Gauteng Department of Health to scale-up and expand the roll-out of anti-retroviral treatment to people infected with HIV and AIDS in the province.
"This will further be complimented by the improved implementation of the HIV and AIDS Workplace Programme within Gauteng provincial departments," Finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe said on Tuesday.
Tabling the 2010/2011 provincial budget, Nkomfe allocated over R6 billion over the MTEF, for the improvement of Primary Health Care.
He emphasised the importance of improving the health status of communities through primary health care.
"Part of the initiatives to be implemented during this period includes the extension of operating hours of public primary health care facilities throughout the province and improved queue and pharmacy management.
"This will result in communities making use of community-based PHC facilities 24 hours as part of ensuring that our health care systems works effectively," Nkomfe said.
In order to effectively respond to the growing demand for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), R2.1 billion has been made available for the management of the services.
The money will be spent on refurbishment of the existing and new EMS facilities and help reduce the call-response time.
It will further provide quality services during the 2010 FIFA World Cup event and beyond.
