We’re currently experiencing serious technical problems on the site, and as a result are unable to update the news – even though our market data is running as per normal. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope to be up and running again this evening. Thank you for your patience in this regard.
– David McKay (editor) & team

Impossible to calculate how much NHI will cost - Motsoaledi

Jun 21 2018 19:41

Lameez Omarjee

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has pointed to the gross inequality that exists between public and private healthcare services, while admitting to government inaction
PHOTO: THAPELO MAPHAKELA

NHI is a health financing system that pools funds to provide access to quality health services for all South Africans based on their health needs, and irrespective of their socio-economic status. The bills will ensure that the objective of universal health coverage is achieved, said Motsoaledi.

Responding to a question about the funding of NHI, Motsoaledi said that the health department had reached out to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for their expertise on universal health coverage. "We were told what we are asking for, no one in the world has ever done, from the time universal health care was implemented," he said.

Motsoaledi said it was more feasible to calculate the cost of NHI for each phase that was to be implemented.

"To calculate how much NHI will cost [in its entirety] is an impossibility, the World Health organisation told us," he said. "I don’t understand why South Africa wants to do something no one has ever done."

Motsoaledi said that if The Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa) had in 1990 asked how much democracy would cost South Africa, then we would not have a democracy today.

"NHI is not a Rolls Royce, but it’s not a Toyota –it is what South Africans will design it to be," he said.