President Cyril Ramaphosa says the National Health Insurance will be implemented soon. President Ramaphosa says the scheme will improve lives.
Speaking during the Limpopo ANC provincial elective conference in Polokwane, he says the passing of the NHI and Medical Aids Bills by the Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi is an indication that the scheme will be implemented.
“The National Health Insurance is now here we are going to implement it whether people like it or not. NHI is here and comrades we want all of us to rally behind national health insurance.”
However the Public Health Association of SA says it doesn’t expect the NHI to immediately fix the crisis in the current public health-care system.
The association, which is firmly behind NHI, believes while other issues will be corrected, government needs to urgently start dealing with critical ones such as staffing.
Public Health Association of SA president, Dr Andre Rose says his organisation supports the NHI. But, he believes that it isn’t the immediate answer to the current problems.
“The immediate roll-out of the NHI is not going to solve the health crisis in the country and is certainly not going to ensure immediate equitable health care for everybody. What we need to realise is that the roll-out of the NHI is just the start of the process for ensure equitable healthcare and redressing that inequity that exists.”
Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi believes the NHI will address, amongst others, the leadership issue which has been attributed to the woes in North West health department.
The EFF has welcomed the proposed National Health Insurance Bill. The EFF says the NHI will go a long way in diagnosing current structural problems with the provision of health in South Africa, mainly attributable to the inability of the Health system to effectively implement what the party calls six health systems building blocks. They include Leadership and governance, Health care financing, Health workforce, Medical products and technologies, Information and research; as well as service delivery.
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