{"id":266555,"date":"2018-08-21T15:22:56","date_gmt":"2018-08-21T13:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=266555"},"modified":"2018-08-21T15:22:56","modified_gmt":"2018-08-21T13:22:56","slug":"a-worrying-number-of-doctors-say-they-will-consider-leaving-south-africa-if-nhi-is-implemented","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/266555\/a-worrying-number-of-doctors-say-they-will-consider-leaving-south-africa-if-nhi-is-implemented\/","title":{"rendered":"A worrying number of doctors say they will consider leaving South Africa if NHI is implemented"},"content":{"rendered":"

Union Solidarity’s Research Institute has published the results of a new survey, which sought to find out what healthcare practitioners think about the government’s planned National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, and what they think will happen if it’s implemented.<\/p>\n

According to the report, the overall sentiment among healthcare professionals towards the NHI is generally negative, with many complaining about a lack of information around the whole scheme, and worries that the plans will completely destabilise healthcare in the country.<\/p>\n

While some indicated that they were sufficiently knowledgeable about the NHI scheme, a major complaint among respondents was that the whitepapers presented by the health department in June were too vague and lacked any detail about the functioning and implementation of the NHI.<\/p>\n

The vast majority said they were sceptical that the scheme will be successfully implemented, saying that more consultation needs to take place.<\/p>\n

Healthcare professionals appear to agree that the cost of healthcare in South Africa is not affordable and that everyone has the right to quality healthcare – but are less united in the view that everyone should get the same level of healthcare irrespective of whether they pay for it or not.<\/p>\n

Thus, the overall belief is that the subsidy system – the rich subsidising the poor and the healthy subsidising the sick – is not fair.<\/p>\n

“Apart from the unaffordability of medical aid funds and private medical care, there is no agreement on the basic cornerstones of the NHI,” Solidarity said.<\/p>\n

“This is why (the majority) indicated that there had not been sufficient consultation with interested parties with regard to the objectives and planning of the NHI.)”<\/p>\n

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Worrying consequences<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the most worrying findings in the survey was that 83.2% of healthcare workers believed that private health professionals will leave the country if the NHI is implemented. 43% of the respondents said that they themselves would consider emigrating.<\/p>\n

There was also a firm belief that the scheme would completely destabilise the country’s healthcare as a result. The major points of concern are:<\/p>\n