Advocacy group, the Progressive Health Forum, says the public healthcare sector is in a serious state of distress. The group is now calling on Treasury to better manage its allocation to the sector.

They will be watching closely as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivers his rescheduled Budget Speech on Wednesday.

[WATCH] SA’s economic future is in focus as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivers the 2025 Budget Speech tomorrow. OnPoint Producer Cathrine Mawila gathered public reaction on expectations ahead of the speech. pic.twitter.com/tS4Vdp2Sab

— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 11, 2025

Forum convener Dr Aslam Dasoo says decades of poor management and a lack of maintenance have led to the collapse of many state institutions and that urgent intervention is needed.

“We reject it with contempt when they say that they don’t have money; they seem to have money for all their spurious personal projects in government. And we have seen this since the dawn of the GNU. There is not a single party in the GNU that can escape culpability now.”

Helen Joseph Hospital | The outcome of the investigation by the Health Ombud released

Delays in payments

Meanwhile, the South African Medical Technology Industry Association (SAMED) has called on the government to prioritise addressing delays in payments from provincial health departments to mid-tech suppliers, as well as systemic budgeting and transactional inefficiencies.

The association says provincial health departments have reported insufficient budgets, which have resulted in the suspension of payments to suppliers.

SAMED Chairperson Scott de Oliveira says the situation is negatively affecting suppliers’ cash flow and the quality of healthcare services.

“We have a number of Members that are being pushed to the limits in terms of their financial capacity. We are aware of some members that have already ceased supplying to the state sector and we are aware of some Members that are considering this now. We urge all of our Members to honour their current contracts and tenders. But the situation is becoming untenable and as such, we’re calling on state sectors across the board, including the President’s Office, to really get involved and have this situation resolved.”