Motsoaledi: SA must introduce NHI
Minister bemoans unequal spending on health matters
THIS country cannot afford not to introduce the National Health Insurance system if it is to care for all its people, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said yesterday.
Despite pumping some 8.5% of the country’s GDP into health – almost double what other Brics countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) spent – the system was effectively failing some 84% of the country’s people, who did not have access to quality healthcare, Motsoaledi said in Grahamstown.
“The current system will not provide quality health services to all, irrespective of their socio-economic status. One should not try to save money in a healthcare system and sacrifice people.”
Introducing the NHI would necessitate a massive reorganisation of the current health system, both public and private.
But, he said, it did not mean that private healthcare would be abolished or that everyone would be forced to attend public hospitals.
“It’s about money. It’s a health financing system that pools funds to provide access to a quality health service for all based on their health needs and irrespective of their sociostatus.”
The NHI is currently being piloted in the O R Tambo district, where there have been reported problems with its implementation.
Motsoaledi said of the 8.5% of the GDP that South Africa annually pumped into health, the private sector scored some 4.4% servicing 16% of the population.
The remaining 84% had to draw on the remaining 4.1%.
Annually the public sector spent some R46-billion on health.
The state subsidised the Government Employees Medical Scheme (Gems) to the tune of some R17-billion.
Others, who worked for the state but were not members of Gems, including police, MPs and judges, were subsidised to the tune of R1.8billion.
A further R26-billion was “hidden” from the budget as it formed part of salaries to cover medical aids.
The SA Revenue Services gave tax credits and rebates to the tune of some R20-billion to people on private medical aids.
Employees of state-owned enterprises – some of whom earned seven times more than the President – were subsidised to the tune of R7.2billion by the state for their healthcare.
“As a part of our GDP the money we put into health is in the same range as most European countries. But our healthcare systems and outcomes are incomparable.”
He said human beings followed resources and all the best doctors, specialists, nurses and administrators went to the lucrative private sector.
He said it was vital that he convince National Treasury that the NHI was in the best interest of the country.