South Africa to Focus on HIV and TB cases

South Africa said it would pay attention to catching up with the untreated portion in identifying cases of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) that were put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Minister Joe Phaahla told the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Wednesday that the ministry would catch up with many delays in surgery and other medical facilities caused by a focus on treating coronavirus patients in the last two years.

He said the great pressure that the coronavirus put on hospitals and front-line health care workers has been significantly relieved and has returned to issues such as how to properly treat people living with HIV and tuberculosis.

Phaahla outlines a budget of just over 64 billion rands in NCOP's new fiscal year, about 86% of which will be available in the state's nine health departments, with associated conditions to combat HIV and AIDS, TB and STI programs, non-communicable diseases, and increasing clinic staff at hospitals and clinics.

According to Phaahla, quality improvements cannot be talked about without working on the infrastructure and equipment of the medical facility, so a significant amount of money will be spent on the replacement or refurbishment, and maintenance of the infrastructure or medical health facility.