Private Healthcare Should Not Wait for NHI, Says Business Day Commentator
Published
South Africa's private healthcare sector is facing questions about its future as the government continues to plan the National Health Insurance (NHI) system. In a column published in Business Day, commentator Brian Ruff argues that private medical schemes, funders and healthcare providers should not wait for the government to act before they make changes.
The NHI is a government plan to provide health coverage to all South Africans, regardless of their income or whether they have private medical insurance. The plan has been discussed for many years and has caused debate among politicians, doctors, insurers and patients. Private healthcare plays a large role in the country's health system, so its stakeholders are closely following the policy's development.
Ruff's article makes the point that medical schemes, funders and providers have the ability to act on their own, without waiting for instructions from the state. He says they also have a responsibility to do so now. According to the column, these groups can take steps that are within their control, rather than leaving key decisions until the government finalises its plans.
The column is an opinion piece, so its views belong to the author and do not represent an official position of the government or the industry. Readers who want to understand the NHI debate more fully may wish to read reports from several sources, including government statements and the views of medical professionals and patient groups.
Sources: Business Day
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