Noble NHI aims, but a record that bodes ill

Popo Maja’s letter on behalf of the health department, “Opposition to NHI is just swartgevaar” (August 18), warrants a reply.

To begin with, I am a product of apartheid and frankly I am sick and tired of the government using phrases such as “it entrenches apartheid” in the provisions of laws including health care, especially in circumstances where departments have been rendered inoperative by theft and corruption.

The majority of rich people, and indeed the middle class, pay taxes and are entitled to benefits that the poor and unemployed lack. Moreover, the government inherited a first-class health system, as it did with other entities in 1994, such as Eskom, Transnet, municipalities and education.

In 25 years, the ANC government has reduced these departments and entities to bankruptcy and dysfunction through theft, corruption and ineptitude.

Mr Maja, predictably, favours overhauling a health-care system that has been decimated by the government. Additionally, he suggests that the working model, accessible to the rich and middle class, be appropriated for all South Africans, rich and poor. He proposes a “fairer distribution of resources to rich and poor” without regard to the theft and corruption that have taken place under the ANC government, to the tune of more than R600bn.

This astronomical amount could easily have been used to build houses and hospitals for the poor.

The “swartgevaar narrative” suggested by Maja — that “whatever the black-led government touches will fail” — is utter nonsense. The government has proved that it has some very capable individuals.

What the government fails to display is a willingness to appoint qualified people to run its departments. Instead, it appoints cadres who are uneducated or ill-qualified.

Instead of trying to resurrect dysfunctional hospitals, the government seeks to commandeer private health care as a quick fix to repair the damage done by its own personnel.

Aside from the fact that the government cannot afford to bail out entities like Eskom, it seems as if it has turned a blind eye to the massive R450bn it will cost annually to run National Health Insurance.

That “health is the ultimate dividend of democracy” cannot be denied, but likewise, Mr Maja and his associates cannot hide behind the fact that 25 years ago this was equally accurate.

As Abraham Lincoln said, you can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. Nathan Cheiman, Northcliff

It’s the ANC in Wonderland

Popo Maja, spokesperson for the health department, predictably introduces racism into the NHI debate. This is par for the course for the ANC government and its spokespersons. When you cannot have a logical debate, whip out the race card.

I think that most South Africans of all colours would agree that we do need a workable and affordable national health system. The missing pieces of your letter are the words “workable and affordable”.

This government, with the health department being one of the leaders, has no record of initiating and maintaining anything at all. The public health system is not merely poorly run, it is a calamitous operational and financial mess that poses a clear and present danger to our citizens. A few examples: Life Esidimeni, billions paid out in damages claims, dirty and unsanitary conditions in 95% of state hospitals and clinics.

Mr Maja selects a few other countries as examples of existing and proposed national health schemes. None of these countries has anything like our record of incompetence, mass looting by poorly trained cadres and patient deaths.

Unfortunately, the stated noble aims of the department are nothing more than the ANC in Wonderland. The real aims are the destruction of private health care by an incompetent and childishly jealous leadership.

Finally, Mr Maja, your government does not finance private health care, users do, while all taxpayers fund the system that your colleagues are currently robbing, raping and wrecking.

In the very unlikely event that this harebrained scheme sees the light of day, there will be not nearly enough taxpayers sitting around in the darkness waiting to pay for it.

D Wolpert, Rivonia

Western Cape in better health

Until 2006, I was able to pay for medical aid for myself and family. The National Credit Act came into force and destroyed my business. I have since been forced to use the state medical infrastructure.

The amount of time wasted to collect medication or see a doctor is appalling. An example: get to the pharmacy at about 6am, get your medication at about noon, if you’re not told it is out of stock or not available. This is in the province of Gauteng.

Four years ago, I was offered a position in the Western Cape. On arrival I went to the local hospital and presented my letter of introduction to the lady on duty. She explained that there are half a dozen clinics, with doctors and qualified nursing staff. She asked me for my address and said I was less than five minutes’ walk from one of their clinics.

If you can get it to the standard of the Western Cape, you have a deal. If the standard you are going to run with is Gauteng’s, forget it. More people will die standing in queues than will get meds or treatment.

Hamilton Gray, Rosettenville