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DENOSA holds two-day workshop on NHI
DENOSA held a two-day workshop on National Health Insurance (NHI) from Tuesday 17 May to 18 May at DENOSA Head Office in Pretoria where nurses from different corners poured their views
on the NHI ahead of DENOSA's submission of its comments to the White Paper on NHI at the end of May.
on the NHI ahead of DENOSA's submission of its comments to the White Paper on NHI at the end of May.The White Paper on NHI was released in December last year.
DENOSA 1st Deputy President, Modise Letsatsi, took the more than 40 nurses through various stages of health transitions worldwide, withe same concept of Universal Health Coverage.
Health Coverage. "Recently we've had a new phenomenon of trauma and injury, in addition to the burden of diseases that the county is faced with. The National Development Plan (NDP) requires that we come up with universal health coverage."
"The reason we support NHI as an organisation, is its objectives: meeting population health needs; removing financial barriers to healthcare; reducing incidence of catastrophic health expenditure and internationally agreed health goals; and contribution to better quality of life, poverty alleviation and human development."
barriers to healthcare; reducing incidence of catastrophic health expenditure and internationally agreed health goals; and contribution to better quality of life, poverty alleviation and human development."On the high costs of healthcare, Letsatsi made example of buying a pill at a pharmacy. "Before you are given what you want, the standard question the teller asks you is whether you're buying cash or through a medical aid. If it's through a medical aid, the costs of the pill doubles the cash price," he explained.
a pill at a pharmacy. "Before you are given what you want, the standard question the teller asks you is whether you're buying cash or through a medical aid. If it's through a medical aid, the costs of the pill doubles the cash price," he explained.DENOSA is also due to make a formal submission to the Health Market Inquiry on the costs of private healthcare, chaired by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo.
a formal submission to the Health Market Inquiry on the costs of private healthcare, chaired by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo. Giving the background to the NHI, DENOSA Deputy General Secretary: Member Service, Kwena Manamela said: "The concept of universal health coverage has been there in the world since 1928, but what has been lacking has been the political will worldwide. In the 1940s this concept was introduced briefly in South Africa until National Party came to power, and then in ended."
Service, Kwena Manamela said: "The concept of universal health coverage has been there in the world since 1928, but what has been lacking has been the political will worldwide. In the 1940s this concept was introduced briefly in South Africa until National Party came to power, and then in ended.""The concept of NHI was only adopted by ANC at its 52nd National Congress," he added.
Letsatsi talked of non-availability of essential and basic equipment, as well as decaying health infrastructure, saying these, especially in the NHI pilot districts, are posing a huge challenge.
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