Gauteng Health MEC, Dr Bandile Masuku said the perception that quality healthcare lies in the private system is a myth and that true quality will be delivered in the public system through the introduction of the much-debated National Health Insurance (NHI).
Addressing the community of Kagiso at the public and stakeholder meeting held at Chief Mogale Community Hall, Masuku said the NHI will create a single pool of healthcare funding for private and public healthcare providers through the fund, which will pay public and private healthcare providers on the same basis.
The MEC said Gauteng is experiencing a high number of patients in all its public health facilities, many of them immigrants. He added that over 15 million people are served by health facilities in the province, and the introduction of the NHI will reduce the workload on both the private and public health services sectors.
“NHI is the route that the government wants to take in addressing the level of services rendered within healthcare. The NHI is going to help us improve the quality of care. In Gauteng we do not have a problem with access to healthcare, we are only dealing with access to quality public healthcare,” he explained.
The NHI was introduced to Parliament last year by Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize. It aims to achieve universal access to quality healthcare services in the Republic, in accordance with section 27 of the Constitution.
Referring to the Life Esidimeni tragedy, Masuku said there has been a history of scandals and he is looking forward to changing the lives of Gauteng people for the better. Masuku also dismissed the perception that the introduction of the NHI will create a conducive platform for government to monopolise health-care services.
“We want to take our people into our confidence and move along with them with regard to the good intentions of the NHI. We are not introducing the NHI with the intention of disadvantaging our people.
“The financial system is going to help us improve the quality of healthcare, essentially in Gauteng. We do not have a problem with access to healthcare, we are only dealing with access to quality public healthcare,” he explained.
While acknowledging the introduction of the NHI in public health facilities, there are challenges that his department and the national government are intending to address. These include the attitude of nursing staffs, long queues as well as the turnaround time in respect of the attention given to patients, and ageing infrastructure. The Gauteng Health Department will also roll out the NHI public hearings bill around Gauteng.
Among those who attended the sitting in Kagiso were Mogale City Council Speaker, Councillor Noluthando Mangole, former Member of Parliament Humphrey Mmemezi and Mogale City councillors.
