Cape Argus E-dition

Recommendations heard on NHI Bill

TARRYN-LEIGH SOLOMONS

THE Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) is of the view that the National Health Insurance (NHI) should only fund mechanisms for health in the country.

This comes as Parliament’s portfolio committee on health was yesterday briefed by the HPCSA and other stakeholders regarding the NHI Bill.

The objective of the bill is to provide universal access to quality health care for all South Africans as enshrined in the Constitution.

HPCSA president Professor Simon Nemutandani told the committee that they welcomed NHI because it will aid in reducing inequalities between the public and private sectors; ensure quality assurance for universal health coverage and enforce Professional Codes of Conduct and Ethics.

Nemutandani suggested that the NHI be funded through the tax of all employed South Africans.

Private medical aid schemes would continue to exist, but funded separately over and above tax paid for the NHI.”

SA Pharmacy Council registrar, Vincent Tlala, told the committee that the SAPC was also in support of the NHI initiative.

The Board of Healthcare Funders, however, said the bill needs to be strengthened on several fronts which include the language used in the legislation and constitutional issues raised by the bill, among others.

METRO

en-za

2021-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

http://capeargus.pressreader.com/article/281659667936356

African News Agency