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A recently released report by the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI) indicates deep-seated distrust on the part of medical professionals of National Health Insurance (NHI) plans.
With health care workers having gained more knowledge about the NHI, their disapproval of the scheme is said to have increased sharply. Moreover, an overwhelming 99% of the respondents are also deeply concerned about the government’s ability to administer and manage the NHI. The report is the product of a fourth Solidarity study that measured healthcare workers’ understanding of and attitudes towards NHI. The 2023 study follows those undertaken in 2021, 2019 and 2018. Participants in the study came from diverse medical professions and demographic groups. While more than half of them recognised the unaffordability of medical funds for the majority of citizens, they were, for various reasons, concerned about the impact of NHI as a substitute. An overwhelming 94% of the respondents believed the successful implementation of the NHI was unlikely. The distrust in the NHI was such that 94% of respondents believed private health practitioners might decide to go and work abroad. According to Welthagen, 19% have already initiated the emigration process. She also indicated that corruption was considered to be the main obstacle to the NHI’s feasibility. “For this reason, health care workers are not only suspicious of the NHI; they are against it,” Welthagen explained. The deadline for submission of comments to the National Council of Provinces on the draft NHI legislation is the end of this week.
- Read Solidarity’s press release in regard to the survey and access the full report at Politicsweb
- Lees ook, Medici hewig gekant teen NGV, by Maroela Media
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page