‘It is long overdue’ — clinic owner about NHI

The Randfontein Herald recently approached Unjani Clinic in Mohlakeng about the National Health Insurance (NHI) and wanted to know how it will affect them.

The owner of the clinic, sister Cathy Seakamela, confirmed that the NHI is a system whereby the government will provide free healthcare to the public. She added that people who do not have medical aid can thus register on the NHI programme so that the government can pay the private service provider.

Seakamela stated that the NHI will affect professional healthcare providers.

“This means that doctors will receive more patients in their practices, knowing that the government will be paying them for the services they have rendered,” she claimed.

She emphasised that the Unjani Clinic will benefit from the NHI since they will be assured that they are being paid for their services. She added that they are currently in partnership with the national government in rendering some services to the public and the system is working very well.

For Seakamela personally, the NHI means that she can access the health service without struggling and she also believes that this system will improve health care services.

“It is long overdue. Systems have to be improved and the government needs to explain clearly how the system works,” Seakamela concluded.