By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The department of health spent R28.5m promoting National Health Insurance (NHI) policy from April 1 2024 to date, health minister Aaron Motsoaledi said in a written reply to a parliamentary question.
The question was asked by Democratic Alliance (DA) health spokesperson Michelle Clarke, who said in a statement that the “astronomical” sum was a waste of taxpayers money particularly in the light of the critical shortages in the health sector.
Clarke described the campaign as propaganda meant to force the implementation of the Act despite concerns from some members of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
The DA demands that Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi immediately halt the taxpayer-funded propaganda campaign for the NHI. This campaign is an unnecessary and wasteful use of public funds.”
Clarke said the money could have been spent in more beneficial ways such as hiring more doctors and nurses.
“The minister claims there are no funds to fill the 2 000 vacant medical positions in public hospitals, contributing to an unacceptable decline in healthcare standards for South Africans,” she said.
Clarke said the health department also revealed that the country’s doctor-to-patient ratio stands at 1:2230, and the nurse-to-patient ratio is 1:762.
She said last year, 2 000 critical medical posts were left vacant, and yet, thousands of qualified doctors and healthcare professionals remail unemployed.
“The DA has already reported that many newly qualified doctors are left with no option but to seek employment abroad or join the private healthcare sector, further straining the already fragile system,” she said.
“It is unconceivable that this government, which cannot provide basic healthcare services to its people, chooses to splurge millions on advertisements that promote an unrealistic, unimplementable healthcare scheme.”
Meanwhile, the United Healthcare Access Coalition (UHAC), a grouping claiming to represent 80% of all private healthcare stakeholders, lodged a detailed alternative proposal with the President’s office. This entirely rejects the NHI and focuses on rehabilitating the healthcare system based on a synthesis of far-reaching recommendations which various commissions and experts have made over several decades, including the Taylor Commission and the more recent Health Market Inquiry (HMI).
UHAC spokesperson Dr Aslam Dasoo described their proposa as “everything that the NHI is not”.
“Our health pathway requires easy legislative changes and is within current fiscal constraints. We can start the process immediately. It requires a change in governance structure of the provincial health systems where politicians relinquish all direct authority over healthcare institutions and instead focus on strategic policy,” he said.