Climbdown on medical aids

[schumi]

The Department of Health has done a U-turn on its plan to scrap medical aid schemes, saying they should work with the state when it rolls out National Health Insurance instead.

Department director-general Precious Matsoso met leaders of the medical aid plan sector and asked that they work together to reform healthcare in South Africa.

"This is big news," said Graham Anderson, principal officer of Profmed.

The medical aid sector was delighted to be asked to work with the department, because it had been in the dark about NHI for some time, he said.
In the meeting Matsoso made different suggestions on how the government may have to work with the private sector, such as subsidising medical aid options for people who couldn't afford them.

Finer details of a partnership, however, were not discussed.

Matsoso confirmed the meeting.

She said: "The Department of Health is consulting all stakeholders, private, civil society and labour, to get further inputs [on NHI].

"All meetings have been positive. We look forward to further engagements."

This latest policy is a considerable climbdown from the government's previous stance, which envisaged the end of medical aid schemes in South Africa.

More at: http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2017/05/11/Climbdown-on-medical-aids

 

[HavocXphere]

I guess gov finally realized it's a bad plan to break the one part of medical service that actually works

 

[Cius]

I think they realized how many family members they all had who depended on it to live. Government employees have access to the excellent military hospitals etc but they all have family and friends show do not.

 

[Crabby]

I think they realized how many family members they all had who depended on it to live. Government employees have access to the excellent military hospitals etc but they all have family and friends show do not.

It's been about 20 years since the military hospitals were classed as excellent hasn't it ?

 

[Craig_]

More at: http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2017/05/11/Climbdown-on-medical-aids

Why don't they use the money they intend on wasting on this project and upgrade the public hospitals rather? Leave the things that are working alone and work on those that are not working. I don't see how they will improve health care overall for everyone at all. They will most probably just f it up.

 

[Former member 61586]

Government employees have access to the excellent military hospitals etc

You are talking utter and absolute rubbish. Government employees do NOT all have access to military hospitals. In fact I think only a very small amount qualify to be allowed access to military hospitals. Think those in the army and key political figures only.

 

[killerbyte]

To remove the medical aids would spell disaster. Here is a video that I watch this weekend that highlights the problems in Canada where private medical aids are banned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2jijuj1ysw

tl;dw - waiting times of over 5 hours in a hospital ER, 3 year waiting list to get your own family doctor, $900 bill if you want a check up at a private doctor.

Socialism doesn't work. But I do believe that government must provide decent health care to those who cant afford it, thats what I want my taxes to be used for.

 

[Johnatan56]

To remove the medical aids would spell disaster. Here is a video that I watch this weekend that highlights the problems in Canada where private medical aids are banned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2jijuj1ysw

tl;dw - waiting times of over 5 hours in a hospital ER, 3 year waiting list to get your own family doctor, $900 bill if you want a check up at a private doctor.

Socialism doesn't work. But I do believe that government must provide decent health care to those who cant afford it, thats what I want my taxes to be used for.

R9.66/Canadian dollar so R8689.90.
Thanks for the link