THE government will "urgently" begin rehabilitating state hospitals in order to implement its new National Health Insurance scheme, Health Minister Molefi Sefularo said yesterday.

THE government will "urgently" begin rehabilitating state hospitals in order to implement its new National Health Insurance scheme, Health Minister Molefi Sefularo said yesterday.

Speaking at the Annual Development Partners Consultation Forum in Pretoria, Sefularo said this was part of the government's goal to reduce inequalities in healthcare provision.

"Goals have been set for further reducing inequalities in healthcare provision, to . revitalise hospitals and clinics and step up the fight against HIV and Aids, tuberculosis and other diseases."

His department was also paying serious attention to the remuneration of health professionals, removing uncertainty in the country's health services, he said.

Sefularo said the government also wanted to reduce the rate of new HIV infections by 50percent and to reach 80percent of people who needed antiretroviral drugs by 2011. - Sapa