Chair, one of the health committee's observations, which the ACDP agrees should be prioritised, is that the Medical Research Council's budget is simply not enough, and this has a direct impact on health services. We are told by the MRC that increasing life expectancy, one of the four outputs in the Minister's performance agreement, has been accomplished and life expectancy in South Africa has been dramatically increased. So we say, well done. However, decreasing maternal and child mortality, another of the four outputs expected of the Minister, has not been accomplished despite the incredible success in preventing mother-to-child transmissions of HIV and Aids through antiretrovirals. The MRC says that the challenge now is the transference of HIV and Aids through breast-feeding.
With this in mind, the ACDP calls on the Minister to give serious thought to expanding the reach of human milk banking. The SA Breastmilk Reserve, the SABR, which controls over 90% of breast-milk banking activities in South Africa, targets the highest risk population in public-sector hospitals, saving lives at birth and in the first two weeks of life. I am told that Minister Motsoaledi has referred to this bank as the golden standard for human milk banking, and that benchmarking teams were sent to learn from them. The problem is that the SABR operates on a shoestring budget and urgently needs funding to support and expand its work, and to ensure maximum safety, with the correct protocols, procedures and testing.
A former director of the United Nations Children's Fund, Unicef, says breastfeeding is a natural safety net against the worst effects of poverty. He believes that a child who can survive its first month and get breast milk for the next four months, will erase the health difference between being born into poverty and affluence.
While still on the subject of maternal and child mortality, how is the Minister dealing with the recent situation with regard to the cut in overtime pay, which has led to a loss of anaesthetists, gynaecologists and a plastic surgeon, in one of the largest academic hospitals in Johannesburg? A shortage of specialists will increase waiting times for patients to be diagnosed, and surgeries could come to a standstill. Why is it so important for specialists not to work in the public or private sector after completing 40 hours in a government hospital? If some have abused the system, surely we must deal with them and not punish all the doctors?
Will it affect the hospital's accreditation as an academic hospital if there are too few specialists left to train the registrars and, most importantly, what will the impact be on maternal and child mortality? Finding the balance will not be easy. However, the ACDP will support this budget. Thank you. [Applause.]