‘Pandemic shows need for National Health Insurance plan’

THE Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing health-care inequalities, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said at a World Health Day event yesterday.

He said the pandemic had brought into sharp focus the need for the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) plan.

“The universal health coverage agenda is critical for our context, as further highlighted by the current pandemic. The implementation of NHI is seen as a critical intervention that will assist in restructuring the core components of the health system,” he said.

Mkhize said there was also an urgent need to expand Africa’s vaccine-manufacturing capabilities. He said the continent could not be left to rely on other countries.

World Health Organization regional director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti said the lack of equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines needed to be addressed urgently.

More than 400 million vaccine shots have been administered worldwide and only about 11 million have been administered in Africa. In South Africa, more than 250 000 health-care workers have been vaccinated.

Moeti said access to vaccines had to be broadened.

She said the pandemic has brought into sharp focus global health inequalities, citing the shortage of personal protective equipment and testing kits in some African countries, and the limited supply of vaccines.

Moeti said global leaders needed to work together to address these inequalities by ensuring that rich countries shared excess vaccines, and pharmaceutical manufacturers should expand their capacity.

Moeti applauded South Africa’s drive for universal health insurance, although the plan has been put on hold due to the pandemic.