The South African Business Coalition on HIV and Aids welcomes the Presidents State of the Nation address on the 3rd June 2009 and government’s undertaking to improve infrastructure development, especially in the health care sector.

Brad Mears, CEO of SABCOHA, said: "SABCOHA shares the Presidents sentiments on the need to revitalize systems, infrastructure and state of human resources in the health care sector. It is only through public/private partnerships that the health care needs of all in South Africa can be adequately met. SABCOHA acknowledges the Governments priority given to the need for health care insurance, and looks forward to engaging with Government in this regard."

In his speech, President Jacob Zuma committed the government to "reducing inequalities in health care provision, to boost human resource capacity, revitalise hospitals and clinics and step up the fight against the scourge of HIV and AIDS, TB and other diseases".

Zuma said: "We must work together to improve the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for the Treatment, Management and Care of HIV and AIDS so as to reduce the rate of new HIV infections by 50% by the year 2011. We want to reach 80% of those in need of ARV treatment also by 2011.

He also said that the government will "introduce a National Health Insurance scheme in a phased and incremental manner. In order to initiate the NHI, the urgent rehabilitation of public hospitals will be undertaken through Public-Private Partnerships.

"We are also paying urgent attention to the issues of remuneration of health professionals to remove uncertainty in our health services. Working together let us do more to promote quality health care, in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to halve poverty by 2014," he said.

Mears said: "I think that the address was balanced, and may have gone further than previous addresses. Although I think that we will need to wait for further information from the respective ministers on exactly how they intend to deliver on the promises made by the President."

Click here to read the speech in full: