City Press reports that four factors are likely to determine the success or failure of the National Health Insurance (NHI), as the government last week released two new bills to enable its establishment.  

According to Nicholas Burger, a healthcare consulting analyst at market research company Frost & Sullivan, these would be funding, collaboration between the public and private sectors, the availability of a skilled workforce and management – including avoiding corruption.  Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi last week published the NHI Bill and the Medical Schemes Amendment Bill for comment.  The aim of the NHI is to provide healthcare services to all South Africans, regardless of their income level.  The system is scheduled to come into effect in 2026.  Burger said the NHI was likely to be funded using a “mixed model”, or different sources of revenue.  Motsoaledi said he had his eye on the R60 billion in reserves that the medical aid industry had piled up.  In Burger’s view, it was unlikely that the NHI would make medical aid schemes redundant.  However, they would lose members.  The Board of Healthcare Funders of Southern Africa said last week that it welcomed progress made towards universal healthcare for all.  The board represents 45 local medical aid schemes, administrators and managed care organisations.

• Read this City Press report by Justin Brown at Fin24

Read too, Motsoaledi announces drastic changes to medical aid rules, at Timeslive

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page