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Health rights group wants Treasury savings spent on healthcare access

Published

The Rural Health Advocacy Project says government must turn savings from the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement into better access to healthcare. The group spoke after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana presented the statement.

Candice Bailey, spokesperson for the Rural Health Advocacy Project, said the focus on efficiencies is important. She said government must also meet its constitutional duty to improve the path to healthcare, and must do both at the same time.

Godongwana added more than R5 million to the district health programme grant. The money is meant to cushion the loss of PEPFAR support.

He also allocated another R1.6 billion to nutrition for mothers and babies in their first thousand days.

Key facts

Who
Enoch Godongwana (Finance Minister); Candice Bailey (spokesperson for the Rural Health Advocacy Project); Rural Health Advocacy Project (health rights group)
What
Health rights group the Rural Health Advocacy Project called on government to turn Treasury savings from the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement into better healthcare access. The article notes Godongwana added over R5 million to the district health programme grant to cushion the loss of PEPFAR support, and allocated another R1.6 billion to nutrition for mothers and babies in their first…
When
24 October 2026
Where
South Africa
Status
Reported

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