Gauteng premier David Makhura is lobbying the national Health Department to take over the financing of the province’s four central hospitals, arguing that they are chronically underfunded for their role.
Business Live reports that Gauteng is home to four of South Africa’s 10 central hospitals, which are linked to medical schools, and provide highly specialised care to patients with complicated conditions. They include Charlotte Maxeke, Steve Biko, Baragwanath and George Mukhari, which serve patients living in Gauteng as well as those referred from other provinces and from neighbouring states.
The report says Makhura’s move comes as the government faces increasing pressure to tackle the problems in the public health sector, and is driving through an ambitious set of reforms aimed at ensuring everyone has quality care free at the point of delivery, called National Health Insurance.
"We are requesting national government to take over the running of these four hospitals because they service the whole nation. However, the province will continue carrying the administration and operation function as delegated."
[link url="https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/health/2019-08-28-gauteng-wants-health-department-to-finance-its-four-central-hospitals/?utm_source=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Tito+Mboweni+springs+surprise+growth+plan+%7C+Gauteng+wants+health+department+to+finance+its+four+central+hospitals+%7C+Telkom+to+embrace+fintech+in+ongoing+drive+to+diversify&utm_term=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.businesslive.co.za%2Fbd%2Fnational%2Fhealth%2F2019-08-28-gauteng-wants-health-department-to-finance-its-four-central-hospitals%2F"]Business Live report[/link]