Bloemfontein - Millions of rands have been allocated for the re-opening of a hospital school and implementing the Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD) in the Free State.
MEC for Finance Seiso Mohai said health, much like education, remains a priority for the people.
"With many of our people deprived of access to medical aid, public health remains the hope of many in our province," he explained.
Mohai said the lack of health professionals has prompted just over R6 million to be set aside over the MTEF for the re-opening of Thaba Nchu Hospital School.
Funds have also been allocated to deal with OSD for doctors and specialists, therapists, pharmacists and EMS staff, and also for the Improvement of Conditions of Service.
Mohai said attention will be given to various areas such as reduction of incident rate for HIV by half by 2015, TB incident rates and infant mortality rate amongst others, to improve the health profile in the Free State.
He placed importance of children's health by saying they cannot allow children to die of things that they can effectively control hence increasing immunisation coverage to above 90% in all districts.
Mohai said they will also increase the number of trained professional nurses to above 60% in all PHC facilities. He added that implementation of school health services targeting crSches, Grade R and Grade 1 learners needed to be strengthened.
