Numsa slams 'health profiteers' Johannesburg - The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) on Monday slammed the research by consultancy Econex into the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.
Numsa said the study - commissioned by private hospitals - was a "ploy by health profiteers to undermine the progressive health reforms that are being introduced by government on behalf of the workers and the poor". According to the study, government will have to provide an extra R244bn a year, in addition to the money it already spends on health. "The proposed NHI in its current form, promising universal coverage, no co-payments, comprehensive cover and provider of choice, will be massively expensive," Econex said in its research note. However, Numsa said in a statement the research showed that "health profiteers are hell-bent on maintaining and perpetuating the old apartheid and racialised healthcare inequalities in our country". The ANC-led alliance government had a "revolutionary responsibility" to implement the NHI scheme consistent with both its electoral commitments and mandate, "as opposed to appeasing the health profiteers and the market". *NHI noble* The union said that to the millions of workers and the poor, the NHI scheme was a realisation of the noble goals of the Freedom Charter. The charter called for "a preventive health scheme" run by the state, free medical care and hospitalisation for all, with special care for mothers and young children. Numsa called on government to "move with speed" in releasing the NHI policy for public comment. "The health profiteers and the market fundamentalist cannot be allowed to dictate policies for the ANC ruling government in pursuance of their self-centred accumulation interests and profit maximisation." While Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan may mention the NHI in his first budget speech on Wednesday, he was not expected to announce the launch of the scheme. The plan is still regarded by most economists as being in its infancy. - SAPA -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
