Health groups are seeking detailed information on the workings of South Africa’s new National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, particularly on its financial feasibility.
The Khayelitsha and Klipfonetin health forums said in a presentation to parliament that a proper analysis is necessary to see if South Africa can even afford to fund the NHI. This is a concern that has been echoed by experts. The analysis should also find out if the public trusts the government to be able to deliver an NHI that is fully inclusive of community participation, the forums said.
“There is a view that perhaps we need to be building our public healthcare system as a priority to ensure a successful transition to an NHI Fund,” it said.
The forums also raised concerns around what the NHI will mean for existing healthcare systems – including the future of the country’s medical aids.
“Clarity is needed with respect to how the NHI Bill will address the transition between private medical aids and a universal healthcare system for all.
“The gap between private and public healthcare needs to be bridged and how this is done is important.”
Other critics have also pointed out that the scheme does nothing to address the serious gaps and flaws in South Africa’s healthcare system.
The fate of medical aids
The NHI Bill currently states that when the system is “fully implemented”, services that are paid for by the NHI will not be covered by medical aids.
Discovery Health has said that while it is in general supportive of the structural changes being introduced through the NHI, medical aids should not be limited.
“Our strong view is that limiting the role of medical schemes would be counterproductive to the NHI because there are simply insufficient resources to meet the needs of all South Africans.
“Limiting people from purchasing the medical scheme coverage they seek will seriously curtail the healthcare they expect and demand. It poses the risks of eroding sentiment, and of denuding the country of critically needed skills, and is impacting negatively on local and international investor sentiment and business confidence.”
Crucially, by preventing those who can afford it from using their medical scheme cover, and forcing them into the NHI system, this approach will also have the effect of increasing the burden on the NHI and will drain the very resources that must be used for people in most need, the scheme said. Significantly, there is no indication by government as to how the NHI will be paid for, or whether it can even be afforded, with only mention made to payroll taxes and other revenue streams being tapped.
Source: BusinessTech
