DA: No support for ‘myopic’ NHI bill as public hearings end

The Portfolio Committee on Health held its last virtual round of public hearings on the NHI on Wednesday morning where it received submissions from the DA and African National Congress (ANC).

 The DA’s Siviwe Gwarube said the bill contains nothing on the introduction of universal healthcare.

 “An overhaul of that system is going to fix that problem, and that is why this bill is really addressing the nub of the issue and that is why we say that it is myopic. It’s myopic because all that it does is introduce a funding model but says nothing about how you introduce universal medical healthcare.

“How do you make sure that a system is overhauled and improved so that you can make sure that people are not traveling more than 5km  from a primary healthcare facility? All these things are currently not happening in many parts of the country. It is myopic in that it is narrow in its focus.”

But the ANC's Gwen Ramokgopa disagreed.

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She said the NHI would assist in reducing the inequality gap by ensuring that all South Africans have access to quality healthcare. 

"The inequalities that are there currently cannot be justified any longer where almost half of our economy looks after 16% of the population whereas the other half looks after 80% the rest is out of pocket.

 "Even those who use the private health system face financial difficulties should they have some of the dreaded diseases going back to the under-resourced healthcare system."

At the same time Ramokgopa admitted that government is partly to blame for the country’s ailing healthcare system. 

“We must also acknowledge that the inequalities are a result of government inaction and adequate inaction in reforming the finance of the system. The fund therefore is established to purchase healthcare services based on the principles of social solidarity and equity according to health needs and across irrespective socio-economic status."