Medical Academic Quarterly Insights 04

NHI: Why, why, why?

Look, according to the government’s own stats an incredible 32.1% of our population is unemployed. A further 18.2 million live below the internationally defined poverty line, according to the World Bank. That these people deserve access to quality healthcare is beyond question.

But while I don’t exactly like shelling out close to R7k a month to Discovery, I would have to be clueless to think the needs of the least and the lowest are being served by the National Health Insurance Act. The pie-in-the-sky thinking behind NHI seems to be that an act of Parliament can turn Charlotte Maxeke into Netcare Olivedale.

Anyone who has followed the government’s handling of enterprises like Transnet and SAA will know the reverse is more likely, just as anyone who has visited a public hospital will know these institutions are kept functional by a combination of accident and the staff’s prayers.

It’s not like we didn’t have fair warning. The NHI took a very meandering route to the president’s desk, ambling past increasingly concerned interest groups since 2011. SAMA, to their credit, raised the alarm early, as did the country’s insurance bodies. Now the BHF – which represents the government’s own medical scheme, GEMS – is taking the matter to court. And kudos to them - in the public health sector, as in life, the magic wand approach simply doesn’t cut the custard.

If all this venting has given you heartburn, turn to our article on the uses of dexlansoprazole. If NHI makes your teenager anxious, look no further than our informative article. We also have a great article on LDL-C for you to read, as well as an executive overview of the latest stroke treatments.

Till next time!
Conrad

**Conrad Strydom** has been involved in the media, publishing and content creation industry for 12 years. He has worked as an editor and senior journalist for high-profile organisations such as New Media and the South African Medical Association. He believes in a multimedia approach, incorporating whatever format works best to inform and uplift his readers.

**Conrad Strydom** has been involved in the media, publishing and content creation industry for 12 years. He has worked as an editor and senior journalist for high-profile organisations such as New Media and the South African Medical Association. He believes in a multimedia approach, incorporating whatever format works best to inform and uplift his readers.

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