Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is concerned that the judges’ stance in the NHI case might be influenced by them being “beneficiaries” of the same private healthcare system he wants to dismantle, and has publicly questioned their ability to be impartial, reports News24.
Speaking at an International Nurses Day event in East London on Tuesday, Motsoaledi said he hoped the judges’ involved in the court challenge currently before the Constitutional Court would be “sober” in their judgment.
Specifically, he referenced Parmed (Parliament and Provincial Medical Aid Scheme), the exclusive medical aid available only to judges, MPs and provincial legislators, which he said is “heavily subsidised” by the state.
“When I go to a pharmacy with Parmed, I don’t get asked the questions you ordinary people) are asked. I just produce (my medical aid card) …if I retire today, I am going to… keep all the benefits until I die.”
Last week saw the first round of the NHI challenge brought by the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) and the Western Cape Premier. The case centres on whether the public participation process that led to the NHI Act was adequate.
Motsoaledi said he wished the judges “would become sober about universal health coverage”, adding: “I was looking at those judges in their eyes during the court case. They are beneficiaries of the same system I am talking about, yet they must preside over a judgment.”
But the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa), which organised the event with the Department of Health, told News24 that public healthcare facilities are not ready to implement the NHI.
The union’s deputy general secretary Khaya Sodidi said: “NHI talks about infrastructure and adequate staffing. With the current situation, we are not ready for the implementation … Only if we have resources and adequate budgeting can we talk about implementation.”
Sodidi said nurses were already unable to cope in public hospitals because of staff shortages and limited resources.
Motsoaledi, however, insists the medical aid scheme system is not benefiting ordinary people, and defended public hospitals, claiming they can match private facilities, “if not better, provided we give them resources”.
“The difference is that their (private hospitals) sheets are white, while your (public hospital) sheets have lost colour,” he said.
“It is going to get worse, meaning we need to rush and implement universal health coverage. You nurses belong to GEMS … GEMS has just increased the premium by 7.5%.”
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
NHI public consultation under scrutiny in top court
Some NHI implementation ‘full force ahead’ despite pause – Minister
NHI a means towards – not an alternative – improved public healthcare