The DA urges Mpumalanga Department of Health (DoH) to reconsider plans of cutting Home-Based Care Worker’s Budgets by 60%, preventing them from visiting critically ill patients who can’t afford to go to hospitals or clinics.
According to the signed Final Allocation Budget document from the Department of Finance, Mpumalanga DoH is planning to cut Home-Based Services budget from R18 581 this financial year (2023/2024) to a lousy R7 270 for the 2024/2025 financial year (60% cut). (From R1 549 to R605 monthly stipend). The department also plans to cut the Home-Based Care Workers budget by 44% in the 2025/26 financial year (from the current R18 581 to R7 393 per annum – translating to R616 monthly stipend).
The department has however decided to increase Hospital Boards stipends from R442 500 (2023/2024) to R948 000 (2024/2025), a 114% increase. This is gravely concerning, as Hospital Boards in ANC-led governments are alleged to be made up of ANC cadres. The Department is proposing to enrich salary earning board members rather than fund this critical service.
Home-Based Care Workers are the backbone of the frail care system, especially for families caring for terminally ill patients.
The DA calls on MEC Sasekani Manzini and her department, urging them to reconsider their decision to cut Home-Based Care Workers budgets. The impact of this decision will also result in an influx of terminally ill patients at hospitals and clinics, putting more pressure on the already overworked and underpaid healthcare workers.