By: Natasha Archary
Health practitioners still need more clarity on how the National Health Insurance (NHI) will work.
Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa, Chairperson of the South African Medical Association (SAMA) joins Refilwe Moloto on Kaya Biz to understand where they stand on the matter.
Since President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the NHI Bill into law on 15 May, there has been public outcry from unions, the private healthcare sector and South Africans who fear the collapse of the healthcare system in the country.
While Ramaphosa describes the bill as the “Rolls Royce” of healthcare for its promise to provide universal healthcare to all, many are still confused as to how the bill will work.
Dr Mzukwa said the medical fraternity was not properly consulted and there is mixed reactions regarding the NHI.
“No, we don’t think we were properly consulted. You would recall that we were always a part of these developments, right from the white paper, the green paper and the Bill itself.
We even went to the extent of making oral representations to Parliament, and we’ve been pointing out issues that we think are going to make it difficult to have universal access to healthcare.
All the things that we’ve pointed out and raised, has to a large extent been ignored and hence we feel that perhaps the only way we’ll be listened to is to take matters to the court of law.”
Dr Mzukwa said there have been deceptive statements made in public by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, regarding how the NHI works.
The amount that citizens must contribute or the amount needed to fund NHI has not been specified by the government. The parliamentary website’s explainer, however, claims that the “cost of our health-care system, which is currently the most expensive in the world, will be reduced”.
There are three primary financing sources for the NHI listed on the parliamentary website:
- general taxes
- contributions by people earning above a set amount (which has not been specified) and
- monthly contributions made by employees to the fund.
Listen to the conversation on Kaya Biz:
Also read: Make it make sense – Where is the Senzo Meyiwa trial now?
