DA: NHI will result in ‘brain drain’
The Democratic Alliance (DA) believes the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) will result in skilled health practitioners leaving South Africa.
The main opposition party announced on Tuesday that is will seek an urgent legal opinion on the constitutionality of the bill.
The DA’s spokesperson on health Siviwe Gwarube said the NHI is not a practical solution to the county’s healthcare problems.
“This bill seeks to make the state the sole provider, sole purchaser of healthcare services.
“Essentially, if you are a private company or private GP anyone in this country will have to purchase healthcare services from the state.”
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Meanwhile, the South African Private Practitioners’ Forum (SAPPF) warned that doctors are already considering emmigrating as a result of its “vagueness” of the bill.
The organisation’s Dr Johann Serfontein says one of the main issues around NHI is the certainty around compensation.