Medical Brief 284 - 9 January 2020
"The medical profession is becoming more outspoken in its criticisms of the National Health Insurance Bill among growing concerns over large-scale emigration. The SA Medical Association says doctors “strongly oppose” the legislation in its current format, with almost 40% saying they would emigrate if it was implemented, while in a Professional Provident Society survey 72% of all professionals said they would leave if the NHI is implemented in its current form, Rapport reports. PPS conducted the survey among more than 3,300 members for its written parliamentary submissions on the NHI Bill.
PPS also isolated the responses of 2,905 medical professionals, noting that 58% of them were negative about the proposals. The biggest concerns were lack of capacity, infrastructure and fears about corruption.
The doctors surveyed by SAMA strongly oppose the NHI Bill, saying that it would lead to “large-scale corruption”. Economists and health experts have echoed the doctors’ concerns.
SAMA said that it has been in support of the principles of Universal Health Coverage and quality care for all within the South African healthcare system since the beginnings of the health reform debates. “However, SAMA has not been able to support the 2019 NHI Bill in its current format. Many aspects of the Bill require clarification before it is signed into law.”
“In 2018, in response to the 2018 Draft NHI Bill, SAMA raised many concerns and queries about unclear aspects of the Bill, and objected to many aspects proposed to be written into law. Examples include contracting and payment mechanisms which have never been implemented in the country before, as well as missing detail on quality of care expectations. There are also concerns about the amount of power which the Bill hands to the Minister of Health."
Read more:
https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/medical-professions-opposition-to-nhi-bill-grows/
