Commenting on the release of Government’s Green paper on the roll out of the proposed National Health Insurance plan, Katy Caldis, CEO and Principal Officer of Fedhealth says she welcomes the Health Ministers realistic interpretation and understanding of the issues and challenges which need to be addressed in the overall South African healthcare sector.
“We believe the plan shows a practical understanding of the complex challenges involved in improving healthcare delivery in South Africa. It is encouraging to see that all the various building blocks so necessary for a sustainable model, have been deliberately highlighted. “
On the issue of piloting, Caldis believes this is critical so that one can learn from the actual implementation. “At present we have fragmented care and this will hopefully address the issue. It is also encouraging to see a strong focus on primary care which follows Fedhealth’s own strategy currently being implemented in the private sector. Similarly, the focus on performance-based monitoring and recognition will add real value to our total healthcare system.”
Caldis says the shortage of resources to service the implementation has often been raised and while this latest paper addresses and acknowledges the shortage in resources, it also provides a plan, with tangible milestones, to address this shortage.
“The next five years at least will be spent strengthening critical competencies and then promoting the most efficient use of the limited resources we have. At present the private sector is paying a lot for medical coverage without receiving the widely desired outcomes. If NHI is successful, we believe it will achieve its objective and truly benefit all South Africans with universal care created for all,” concludes Caldis.