NHI in, doctors out? Medical practitioners consider emigration
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Health Insurance Bill into law on Wednesday (15 May). Many questions remain unanswered.
Picture: © scukrov/123rf.com
The Drive With Thando team (on 947) speaks to Professor Nicolas Crisp, Deputy Director General of the National Health Insurance at the Department of Health.
Listen below.
Crisp explains that the NHI is a fund of taxpayers' money that pays for healthcare for everyone in South Africa.
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“We are trying to achieve a common fund where we are all contributing as South Africans and we all benefit… the fund will purchase from public and private providers.”
- Professor Nicolas Crisp, Department of Health
Speaking to the team anonymously, a doctor asked why something hanging in limbo for years had suddenly been signed, days before the election.
“… as much as the public is in the dark, there are also a lot of healthcare workers who are also in the dark.”
- Anonymous
Professor Crisps says the process was delayed by Covid-19, among other things.
“It should have actually gone to parliament two years ago, but we got slowed down because of Covid… We got it approved in parliament last year… then the process goes to the presidency’s legal team.”
- Professor Nicolas Crisp, Department of Health
“This [NHI] is not a sudden thing that’s happened. It's been going on for years.”
- Professor Nicolas Crisp, Department of Health
The anonymous doctor says many medical practitioners are considering emigrating.
Tax Consulting SA reported that it had already been approached by several medical professionals to assist with potential emigration due to the NHI.
“Private practitioners are facing the idea that our job titles are going to change, our financial standing… is it not then an easier option to emigrate?”
- Anonymous
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.