NHI Bill should be changed to maximise benefits to citizens

THE NHI Bill as packaged should be changed to maximise benefits to citizens.

We acknowledge the general challenges in the healthcare system (both public and private), that affect the current health system in our province and our country.

We all agree that access to quality and affordable healthcare is a basic constitutional right for every citizen.

It is our view that the National Health Insurance Fund – a funding mechanism – will not achieve this improved health system by itself and wish the NHI bill to be changed.

While committed to universal health coverage (UHC), we strongly believe that any progress should be firmly located within a framework of health system strengthening.

The current lack of appropriate quality of public healthcare is largely due to deficiencies in health systems, often aggravated by continuous cuts in provincial budgets.

In addressing weaknesses in the health system, the national department has an important stewardship responsibility, but so do provinces.

Provincial health systems must form the foundational blocks where patients can receive good healthcare through the district health system, linked to specialised services. These should not be fragmented, as is proposed in the bill. Primarily, we believe that financing conversations, such as National Health Insurance, should be guided by Treasury, indeed a crucial partner in the journey towards UHC.

The Department has submitted detailed comments on the bill by November 29, 2019 for consideration.

The comments are available at (www.westerncape.gov.za) for review. Our bottom line is a request that the bill be changed.

We would encourage Western Cape citizens to attend the NHI Bill hearings being held in the province in February (4 February – West Coast District; 5 February – Cape Town Metro; 7 February – Garden Route District; 8 February – Central Karoo District). We trust that all the input will give opportunity for refinement of the current bill.

“The current lack of appropriate quality of public healthcare is largely due to deficiencies in systems