Cape Town — Minister of Health, Joe Phaala, has eased the fears of those opposing the National Health Insurance (NHI) bill, saying it would not become another failed state enterprise like Eskom.
President Cyril Ramaphosa jokingly said during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), that he simply needed a pen as he was waiting to sign the NHI Bill into law. The Bill was passed in December and the new fund has been criticised for being too costly for the country to run, adding that the government has already failed to run the current crippling health system, SABC News reported.
“Those who fear that the NHI will become a State Owned Enterprise (SOE), some say it will become an Eskom. Let me tell you that in this you can go and ask the Auditor General in this last audit, all health public entities got a clean audits or unqualified audits. So, we can assure you that NHI will be safe in our hands.” Phaala said.
Gauteng Finance MEC Jacob Mamabolo asks DA leader John Steenhuisen to apologise for calling the Crime Prevention Wardens “drunkards pulled from shebeens wearing clothes from Pep store.” He is also calling on Parliament to look into Steenhuisen’s conduct. #SONADebate#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/pbJkdgJzxe
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) February 13, 2024
In addition, Phaala said that in preparation for the implementation of the NHI, the health department would be looking at providing more job opportunities for doctors, according to EWN.
“Our national teams are already working together between Treasury and Health to thrash out the details and working with provincial departments to speed up the process so that by the first of April this year, all those doctors who wish to work in the public sector will be able to get jobs.” he said.
Over the last 1o years, the number of doctors to graduate has doubled, leaving many of them unemployed after conducting their internships, leading to frustration. Over 80 unemployed doctors protested in KZN yesterday to hand over their CVs and a memorandum demanding that the healthcare budget be increased to accommodate over 700 qualifying medical practitioners.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
