By Lebone Rodah Mosima
The Department of Health (DOH) has warned the public about “false and misleading” information suggesting that people living with HIV will receive a R1200 grant starting May 2026.
The DOH advised the public on Saturday to always fact-check or verify information with reliable and credible sources before sharing false news on social media platforms.
“[P]eople living with HIV are urged to ignore this fake news but continue to take a lifesaving treatment available freely at public health facilities to live longer and healthier,” the DOH said.
“This is also important for preventing HIV from multiplying and reducing the risk of drug resistance and treatment failure.”
The government stated last month that it will allocate R410 million over the medium term to cover the funding gap in research left after the withdrawal of US funding.
According to the National Treasury’s 2026 Budget Review, released alongside the Budget Speech, the funds will be reallocated from the Department of Health to the South African Medical Research Council, since the United States has withdrawn its funding.
“This allocation forms part of a co-funding arrangement with global donors to sustain key HIV/AIDS research programmes,” the department said.
Overall, the National Treasury said it will increase health spending by about 4.2%, reaching R334.3 billion in 2028/29.
“Primary healthcare, delivered through district health services, provides the most accessible and cost-effective care, with 44.4% of the health budget allocated to this.”
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