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BL Premium reports that SA’s key industry association for medical specialists says it does not support the National Health Insurance Bill (NHI), describing it as financially unviable and at odds with the rights of people to choose how and where they obtain healthcare.
The SA Private Practitioners Forum (SAPPF) has also raised concerns about the sustainability of the private healthcare sector if, as the bill proposes, the role of medical schemes is sharply curtailed. Its concerns about the potential effects of the bill echo sentiments expressed earlier this week by SA’s biggest doctor organisation, the SA Medical Association (Sama). The bill is the first piece of enabling legislation for NHI, the government’s plan for universal health coverage, and was approved by parliament’s portfolio committee on health last week without any material changes to the 2019 version. It will now go to the National Assembly for debate, where it is expected to be approved. While the bill still has some way to go before it can be enacted, as it must still be considered by the National Council of Provinces and then sent to the president for assent, its approval by the committee nevertheless marks a key milestone. The SAPPF said the “very minor” changes made to the bill failed to address any of the concerns raised by private healthcare. Section 33 of the bill would sharply pare back the role of medical schemes, limiting them to providing only complementary cover to services not covered by the NHI Fund.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
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