Parliament, Sunday, 9 February 2020 – The Residents of the Central Karoo District Municipality have optimally used the opportunity created for them by the Portfolio Committee on Health to express their views on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill.
The committee concluded yesterday the public hearings on the NHI Bill in the Western Cape in Beaufort West where many people directed the attention of the committee to the challenges that riddle the current public healthcare system.
The severe shortage of medical staff at public hospitals was highlighted as one of the key problems that need to be addressed. The residents told the committee that it takes the entire day to see a doctor or a nurse at the public hospitals and clinics. The concerns expressed by residents regarding the Bill also revolved around the powers bestowed on the Minister of Health who is also responsible for the appointment of the Board of Directors for hospitals for example.
According to the residents, the Minister is given too much power by the Bill as an individual and that leaves much room for corruption and nepotism. The residents also asked the committee to explain the source of funding for the NHI, and how, the envisaged NHI is going to deal with the problem of the shortage of staff and poor facilities at public clinics hospitals.
The people of the Central Karoo expressed similar sentiments on the Bill as the people of the Garden Route District in George last Friday where the committee was told that the implementation of the NHI will place a heavy burden on the shoulders of the state and the taxpayers.
The people of the Garden Route District also told the committee, that the Bill in its current form, will drive the country into a social state. Those who opposed the Bill told the committee that the citizens should be given options to choose, between NHI or medical aid. They recommended that the current public facilities must be upgraded to be on the same standard and quality like the private healthcare facilities instead of enforcing the NHI.
One of the residents who oppose the Bill said, there are currently 8 million people on medical aid, and the government wants to convert them into the public healthcare system. The resident argued that the NHI will destroy the private health sector that is currently playing a big role in the medical industry in the country.
Contrary to these views, many residents reiterated their appreciation of the intended provision of access to quality medical assistance for all, irrespective of income. The residents of the Garden Route District told the committee that they are optimistic that the NHI will address the poor state of the current public healthcare facilities and the limited facilities that are available especially in small towns such as Ruiterbosch.
Furthermore, the residents of Thembaletu Township in George called for the speedy implementation of the NHI as there, they argued, are fewer clinics and hospital in their townships. Those who support the Bill in the Central Karoo told the committee that they cannot fight a Bill that is going to provide quality public healthcare to all, irrespective of income.
However, although in both districts, those who supported the Bill expressed their support for it as they hope that everyone is going to have an access to quality healthcare which will change the lives of the poor and vulnerable citizens of the country, they asked the committee to consider, amongst other things, the funding model, the powers bestowed on the Minister, the possibility of corruption and methods of enhancing human resources in public hospitals.
As he did in the previous public hearings in the Western Cape and in other provinces, the Chairperson of the committee, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo assured the residents in the Central Karoo and Garden Route districts that their views and comments will be taken into consideration by the committee in Parliament at an appropriate time.
He thanked the residents for expressing their views in a dignified manner during the public hearings irrespective of disagreements. “On behalf of the committee let me appreciate the matured robustness with which you participated in the course of the public hearings,” said Dr Dhlomo.
The committee will announce the dates for the last leg of the public hearings on the Bill scheduled to take place in the Gauteng Province.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, DR SIBONGISENI DHLOMO.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Felicia Lombard (Ms)
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E-mail: flombard@parliament.gov.za
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