The South African Medical Association Trade Union (Samatu) has welcomed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s R1.4 billion budget allocation to the National Health Insurance (NHI).
Last year, the NHI bill was approved by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), and now only requires President Cyril Ramaphosa’s signature to become law.
The bill seeks to provide universal access to healthcare in the country.
Critics of the scheme say government wants to disrupt a private health care system that is working well. They also say it’s unaffordable.
Samatu’s General-Secretary, Dr. Cedric Sihlangu says, “It comes at a time where it demonstrates commitment to the public health care system which we’ve also been crying out that it needed saving.”
“You’ve seen the minister indicating that overall, there will be a 57. 6 Billion allocated to the salaries of doctors, of nurses and other professionals in the space. You’ve seen now we have been making a lot of noise about unemployed doctors, so this will go a long way in ensuring that all those skills are absorbed.”
Interview with Dr. Sihlangu:
