No Allocations For Pepfar In Health Budget

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana did not announce a budget allocation to plug the gap created by the termination of USAid funding to HIV/Aids organisations during his tabling of the budget speech in parliament on Wednesday.

In February, US President Donald Trump announced an end to funds from USAid which supports the Presidents Emergency Plan for Aids Pepfar and TB treatments. USAid used to fund 44 health projects in the country.

Godongwana told journalists during a pre-budget briefing that, out of 275 000 people working on HIV, TB and sexually transmitted infections programmes, only 15 000 are reliant on Pepfar, adding that the Department of Health would be asked to assist with funding the shortfall. The treasury would only be able to provide more information at the end of the month.

The treasury allocated R298.9 billion to the 2025 health budget and, according to Health-e News, the shortfall resulting from the funding cut is R8 billion.