Question NW2299 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
12 July 2023 - NW2299
Phetlhe, Ms P A to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
In view of the 2023 Budget Vote wherein it was noted that R18,2 that is reprioritised over the next three years from the compensation of employees in the SA Military Health Services (SAMHS) Support programme, to payment for capital assets such as ambulances , radiology machines and other deployable field medical equipment. What (a) plans will be put in place to acquire the specified resources and/or equipment speedily and bring it is service? (b) What steps will be taken to ensure that SAMHS improve management in reduction on overtime work?
Reply:
a) SAMHS has received Rm188 (and not R18,2) that was reprioritized from compensation of employees (overtime) for the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). These funds are ring-fenced for the procurement of Main Medical Equipment and Prime Mission Equipment (Ambulances, Diagnostic Medical Equipment [X-ray] and Deployable Medical Equipment).
Rm60 is ring fenced for FY2023/24, Rm62 for FY2024/25 and Rm65 for FY2025/26.The procurement plan for the FY2023/23 is approved and the acquisition of specified equipment is in process. The process is being monitored by the Surgeon General and quarterly progress reports will be provided to the Chief of the South African National Defence Force (CSANDF) and National Treasury.
This allocation will help the SAMHS improve its overall combat readiness and to achieve better health outcomes.
b) Steps being taken, are the following: SAMHS is introducing more stringent control measures on overtime work. It is implementing a monitoring tool that (automatically) tracks overtime performance (how much time employees work and what they spent that time doing). By tracking overtime metrics, the organisation will get more insights into the impact of overtime on service delivery. The organisation is also reviewing the structure at each of its health care facilities to ensure that it has the required number of Health Care Professionals and support personnel (Current capacity levels do not allow for the provision of a 24hrs service without the use overtime dispensation). The process is expected to be completed before end of June 2024.