The Executive Council of the Eastern Cape Province (Exco – Premier and MECs) held a critical meeting on 30 October during which several major and ground-breaking decisions were made.

One of the biggest issues facing the provincial government is the dwindling equitable share from national treasury, forcing the Oscar Mabuyane – led 6th Adminiatration to dig deep into its own ability to increase revenue.

An Exco statement issued after the meeting stated the following in relation to revenue collection :

“The revenue collection of the departments is improving as a result of the interventions by various provincial government departments to collect monies due to them. These monies are then paid into the provincial revenue fund.

Provincial Treasury, working with the Department of Transport is making progress in collecting monies owed to the Department by vehicle registering authorities.

Furthermore, the provincial department of Health has registered its EMS Division with the board of Healthcare Funders as a healthcare provider. This enables the Provincial department of Health to claim directly from the Road Accident Fund and Medical Aid schemes for rendering services to patients that are members of medical aid schemes when EMS renders these services. Previously the provincial Department of Health was not claiming monies from medical aid schemes and RAF for services rendered.

The registration of the EMS as a healthcare provider was done as part of the implementation of the EXCO resolution taken to help the Department improve revenue collection. The department has also improved the patient report conveyance form to ensure correct capturing of key information required for a valid claim/complete patients record and subsequent billing”.