Treatment Action Campaign

TAC calls for further clarification of Finance Minister Trevor Manuel’s medium-term budget adjustments (released 21 October 2008, passed by National Assembly 23 October). While TAC welcomes the additional R300 million for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, we disagree that decisions around weak social spending, health education and laboratory services were transparent.

TAC is concerned about the budget adjustments in light of South Africa’s high inflation rates, which are eroding critical health response allocations. TAC is also alarmed by the large allocations which appear to prioritise Eskom and the World Cup over basic healthcare services. TAC demands high-level accountability in explaining the previous Ministry’s overspends. Although TAC is still awaiting details of this, the recent ARV shortage in Free State points to mounting evidence of Minister Tshabalala-Msimang’s legacy of incompetence.

Read TAC's analysis of the budget so far as it is relevant to health and HIV. Also read Adila Hassim's Business Day article on why needs-based budgeting for health must be adopted.