More innovative healthcare measures than NHI needed
The South African Institute of Race Relations has warned the government against the implementation of the National Health Insurance.
This after the NHI Bill was adopted by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health on Thursday.
This is a major part of the government’s plans to achieve universal health coverage.
Earlier this month, the second Presidential Health Summit was held in Boksburg.
The summit aimed to assess the readiness of the country's health system to implement National Health Insurance.
The NHI bill was introduced in Parliament in 2019.
It is expected to be debated in the National Assembly and then considered in the National Council of Provinces next month.
“The approval of the NHI Bill by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health is deeply concerning. The government spends billions on public healthcare each year, but, despite the best efforts of many dedicated professionals in the sector, the country gets little bang for its substantial buck," said the IRR's Mlondi Mdluli.
“Instead, public healthcare is plagued by poor management, gross inefficiency, persistent wastefulness, and often corrupt spending."
Mdluli says the government needs to implement more innovative ways to improve healthcare.
“Much could be done to reform both the public and private healthcare sectors. To monopolise the management of all healthcare in the hands of the state, as the NHI would effectively do, is no solution. At least, not if the goal is to improve healthcare outcomes.
“South Africa needs to be innovative in aiming at providing quality healthcare for all, but disabling excellence in the private healthcare system will not match that goal."
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