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BL Premium reports that Discovery CEO Adrian Gore warned on Monday that the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill in its current form would diminish the funds available for healthcare, deter investment and stymie collaboration with the private sector.
One of the most contentious aspects of the bill, which was passed by the National Council of Provinces last week, is the potential death knell it sounds for medical schemes. Section 33 of the Bill provides that once NHI is fully implemented, medical schemes will only be permitted to cover services that are not provided by NHI. That provision had far-reaching implications as it threatened the existence of medical schemes and jeopardised the sustainability of the private healthcare sector, said Gore. “This is the choke point of whether the private sector can exist. It is the clause that determines if we can collaborate. In its current form it is not workable,” he warned. Discovery wants section 33 to be amended so that medical schemes can continue to play a role. Discovery is not alone in voicing its concerns about section 33, which has been criticised by stakeholders ranging from organised business to civil society organisations. No other country in the world has legislated against the provision of healthcare services by the private sector, Gore pointed out. Several organisations, including Business Unity SA and Business for SA, have said they would petition President Cyril Ramaphosa not to sign the bill into law. Gore said Discovery had yet to decide whether to do so.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
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