Article by Marc Aupiais
Blade Nzimande, the Republic of South Africa's: Minister for Higher Education and Training, and the General Secretary of the SACC (South African Communist Party), and a member of the National Executive Committe (NEC), of the ANC (African National Congress): which commands a majority in the South African parliament, and the Presidency- has slammed media bodies, and others, for criticizing the ANC's proposed NHI (National Health Insurance) bill- as the ANC continues to forge ahead with the controversial scheme ( IOL (Secular; Independent; South African) via the Cape Times (Page 1) Monday 03 / 08 | August / 2009 ). It has been reported, that there was speculation that World Renowned Barbara Hogan, was removed from the health Portfolio, due to Trade Union pressure, after she suggested that the bill be submitted to usual procedures and public scrutiny (Mail and Guardian (South African; Independent; Secular; Liberal) article by Health-e News Service 02 / 06 | June / 2009 ).
100 Billion Rand larger Health Budget?
According to Alex van den Heever, a health economist, who was quoted by HASA (The Health Association of South Africa), having spoken at their Durban Conference: the NHI is a ""completely unworkable, unaffordable solution that won't improve health services despite massive increases in expenditure""(News 24 (Secular; Independent; South African) article by SAPA [South African Press Association] (Secular; Independent; South African) 08 / 06 | June / 2009). According to van den Heever: part of the proposal is to increase the Health budget by 100 Billion Rand, an astronomical and unrealistic figure, especially during a recession, and as the ANC has put forward other plans slated as unrealistic by financial experts.
ANC NEC member: those opposing the plan are "capitalists"
Speaking on the 88th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party, Blade Nzimande said:
""The capitalist classes have already started a huge campaign in the media to try to discredit this system, and we want to say to them as communists today, war unto you.Further Criticisms
"Prepare for a huge battle because we are going to mobilise the workers and the poor of the country to fight against you so we can have a national health insurance scheme."
Nzimande said the national health insurance scheme "aims to ensure every South African has access to health services without having to pay up front".
Public and private health care facilities would be open to all who wanted to use them.
"Everyone must have access to affordable and quality health care. How is it going to work? Those that are rich, they are going to pay more for this scheme. Those who are unemployed and with no income, will pay nothing, but everybody will get the same quality treatment." "
(IOL (Secular; Independent; South African) via the Cape Times (Page 1) Monday 03 / 08 | August / 2009 )
According to IOL:
"Critics have argued that the scheme would be too costly to implement and would not work if problems in the public health service - largely stemming from poor management - are not sorted out first.December: In the Pipeline
Under the proposal, medical scheme members would pay 85 percent of the contributions, irrespective of the option they chose, to a global fund that would pay public and private sector providers."
(IOL (Secular; Independent; South African) via the Cape Times (Page 1) Monday 03 / 08 | August / 2009 )
South Africa's public health system is under a state of collapse: with doctors underpaid, and many professionals either entering the private sector, or leaving the country.
A draft on the NHI is expected by December 2009, the ANC plans to implement the NHI within the next 5 years. While the NHI is seen as- likely to go through; one possible reason that the head of the Communist Party, is so vehemently supporting his ANC allies- is that there have been rumours reported in the press last month- that some within the Communist Party, want to replace their General Secretary, or to oppose him in their December conference. The NHI proposal, like many other controversial legislative schemes now being put forward- has previously been pushed by now Zuma Allies. With a leftist president, it is much more likely to succeed.
Under ANC management- South Africa's previously world-class public health sector has collapsed under mismanagement and corruption. Some sources have asked that the ANC run Government firstly fix up the public health sector, before combining it with the private health sector. Others blame the move on covering up ANC incompetence and a lack of service delivery, which has caused violent rioting on the streets.
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