4 September 2009
editorial
Johannesburg — SLOW down, Mr Health Minister. The national health insurance (NHI) is a good idea in principle, but not if it destroys what's good about our health system along with the bad.
No one doubts that our public health system is in deep trouble, and that the private healthcare that most readers of this newspaper purchase is far from perfect. And of course it is grossly unfair that the poor get lousy healthcare, while those who can afford it can buy their way to a better deal. But bludgeoning a bill through Parliament without careful consideration is no way to fix either problem.
This week it emerged that the government intends having legislation in place by April to enable it to set up a national health plan. But it has yet to release a substantive policy document on the subject, presumably because the subcommittee set up by the ruling party to look into the matter still hasn't figured out exactly what national health insurance will involve, never mind what it will cost taxpayers.
What we do know is that rather than trying to sort out the systemic rot in public healthcare -- a project likely to outlive the current administration -- the government is intent on setting up a new system that it seems to believe will be better merely by virtue of its existence. We also know, thanks to a leak to the press, that the laudable principle of "social solidarity" will be applied so that the wealthy can subsidise the poor through mandatory employer and employee contributions. Money will also be drawn from the fiscus.
But exactly how much is needed and whether SA can actually afford the NHI is anyone's guess. And who is going to staff this super-efficient, caring entity the African National Congress is promising? Part of the reason the public health system is in such disarray is that it is chronically understaffed and underskilled.
Clearly Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi wants to be seen to be implementing the ANC's Polokwane resolutions, unlike the previous administration which was adept at ignoring the party's wishes. Fine sentiments indeed. But please. Take a breather. Slow down. And open the doors to public scrutiny. That way we'll get a better deal -- for all of us.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 Business Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
