Gov't prioritises early disease detection to curb 'wastage'

Finance minister, Ndaba Gaolathe, said this is because the government continues to invest substantial resources in the healthcare system, but the expenditures have not yet translated into commensurate improvements in disease outcomes. Delivering the Budget Speech on Monday, Gaolathe said analysis shows that a significant share of health spending is driven by diseases that are both costly to treat but largely preventable.

Ndaba's remarks come amidst a crippling healthcare system characterised by long-running shortage of drugs in public hospitals and clinics.