There has been talk of a National Health Insurance in South Africa for some time now and it is scary to even contemplate this Government trying to implement one. The idea they couldn't do a "piss up in a brewery" is rather apt for this bunch of idiots. The State would be in control of the total funds and decision making yet they couldn't do a roll out of the covid vaccine. If this goes through this will put the entire country in jeopardy as the funds will be at high risk along with every citizen that needs medical help.
The aim of implememting National Health Insurance is to raise the standards of healthcare for everyone. The NHI will be funded by taxes and a free for all heath care system sounds great, but this is a disaster waiting to happen. I would not be around if there wasn't private medical care as relying on Government hospitals is a no no. I would rather take my chances googling something than walking through the doors of one of these State run death traps.
55 million people relying on a corrupt government to deliver a specialised service is never going to end well. Already we have seen the fear grip the medical industry with many talking about moving to other countries. This is a very scary thought as not only will medical practioners be leaving, but the bulk of the brains will hop on a plane as well.
Imagine creating an NHI and actually having a worse service than what is around now as that is what many fear. Specialists and doctors are concerned that they will be used as they will have to stick to strict tariff guide lines. The fear of not working for themselves in a private practice and being told to sign up to the State will chase many doctors and specialists away.
Everyone's concerns are the obvious and that is having enough qualified staff to run the medical facilities. This is not mentioning the roll out and purchasing of medicines and high tech machinery as the State is in control of the fund. We have seen how they have maintained the infrastructure over the last 27 years which is non existent so why would we all fall for this now. Corruption is the biggest fear amongst everyone as there is no trust as we all know what is going to happen.
I was at Johannesburg General Hospital a few years back and foolishly climbed into a lift with 5 other people for the lift to not work as it had not been maintained. It apparently only worked with 2 people inside it if you were brave enough to use it. These lifts stated on the wall that they were designed for 16 people.
The saving grace is even though it is on a 12 year plan to roll out since 2012 forecasts predict that the funds required are just not enough and income taxes would have to be raised by another 32% which is not happening.
The economy being in such a poor state with a huge portion of the working population unemployed means that taxes are shrinking and going the opposite way. As sad as that is this is actually helping keep what we have now as the alternative is just too shocking to comprehend.