Solemn pledge for NHI

NEW BILL: HEALTH MINISTER ASKS FOR SUPPORT OF PHARMACISTS

E-mail sent by SA Pharmacy Council does not suggest there’s a choice to abstain.

‘I, as a pharmacy professional, support NHI [National Health Insurance].” This was the pledge sent out by the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) to pharmacists across the country on Monday, asking them to sign it by next week Friday.

The e-mail, signed by SAPC chief executive officer Amos Masango, was sent at the request of Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, according to an SAPC spokesperson. The spokesperson said pharmacists would face no consequences if they chose not to pledge their support. However, the e-mail does not suggest that making the pledge is optional.

“Pharmacists were asked to take this action at the National Pharmacy Conference two weeks ago,” the SAPC spokesperson said. Mkhize spoke at the conference earlier this month.

Local pharmacists said they were discouraged from speaking on political issues by the Independent Community Pharmacist Association (ICPA). Comment from the ICPA is pending.

“Clicks Group is supportive of the concept of universal healthcare and access for vulnerable communities,” said Rachel Wrigglesworth, Clicks chief commercial officer. “It is, however, too early to pass further comment until more details on NHI become available.

“Clicks has the largest retail pharmacy footprint and United Pharmaceutical Distributors [a division of Clicks] is the country’s largest pharmaceutical wholesaler. So the group is well positioned to support NHI.”

The National Health Insurance Bill was introduced to the National Assembly in August.

Despite several attempts, the department of health was unavailable for comment. – Republished from GroundUp.org.za

Pharmacists are discouraged from politics