South Africa\u2019s Unhealthiest Cities Revealed<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nThe NHI white paper is a policy document which outlines how the government will attempt to pool resources to create a quality healthcare system that services all South Africans regardless of socio-economic status.<\/p>\n
It proposes a single, compulsory\u00a0medical scheme\u00a0for all, with private medical schemes being reduced to offering \u201ccomplementary services\u201d.<\/p>\n
The paper was approved by Cabinet last week and\u00a0once the law was passed, it would become mandatory for every citizen to be on the NHI.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Break Down Of The NHI Cost<\/h2>\n
While it’s still not clear where the money will come from, the minister detailed how the\u00a0over R69 billion cost for NHI will be implemented\u00a0over a four year period.<\/p>\n
He said\u00a0the Treasury would come up with a system on how to cough out the huge sum, but that the funds would come from tax.<\/p>\n
“In other words, everyone is going to contribute towards NHI. Those people who are unable to [contribute], those are the ones that the state must find a way to contribute to them, and it\u2019s not unique to South Africa, that\u2019s exactly what Obamacare meant.”<\/p>\n
The NHI cost is broken as follows:<\/p>\n
\n- \u00a0R22.8 bln (R5.6 bln in the first year, R5.6 bln in the second year, R5.7 billion in the third year, and R5.7 billion in the fourth year) will be spent on pre-natal care for pregnant women — eight pre-natal checks (including two CT scans)<\/li>\n
- R24.6 bln (R4.8 bln in the first year, R5.8 bln in the second year, R6.8 bln in the third year and R7 bln in the fourth year) will be spent on breast cancer treatment;<\/li>\n
- \u00a0R4.9 bln (R987.5 mln in the first year, R1.2 bln in the second year, R1.3 bln in the third year and R1.4 \u00a0bln in the fourth year) will go for cervical cancer treatment;<\/li>\n
- R5 bln (R658 mln in the first year, R920 mln in the second year, R1.7 bln in the third year, and R1.7 bln in the fourth year) will \u00a0be spent on school health;<\/li>\n
- R548.5 mln (R136.1 million in the first year, R136.7 million in the second year, R137.4 mln in the third year, and R138.1 mln in the fourth year) will go for hip and knee replacements for the elderly;<\/li>\n
- R934.7 mln (R318.1 mln in the first year, R198.8 mln in the second year, R198.8 mln in the third year, and RR218.8 mln in the fourth year) to be spent on cataract surgery for the elderly;<\/li>\n
- R5.5 bln (801.9 million in the first year, R1.2 billion in the second year, R1.6 bln in the third year, and R1.9 bln in the fourth year) will be spent on the screening, treatment and care of the mentally ill;<\/li>\n
- R1 bln (R42 mln in the first year, R105 mln in the second year, R262.5 mln in the third year, and R656 mln in the fourth year) to be spent on the treatment and rehabilitation of the disabled;<\/li>\n
- R3.6 bln (R778.7 mln in the first year, R875.2 men in the second year, R945.2 mln in the third year, and R1bln in the fourth year) to be spent on childhood cancer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Presently, South Africa exceeds the World Health Organisation target of spending five percent of GDP (gross domestic product) on health. Motsoaledi said South Africa spends 8.5 percent of its GDP on healthcare.<\/p>\n
The minister, however, pointed out that the country’s outcomes were worse than other countries who spent less of their GDP on healthcare.<\/p>\n
He also stated that it cost the private sector R24,000 to pay for one dose of Herceptin, an effective treatment for some forms of breast cancer, with 17 doses being needed. Some medical aids don’t pay for this treatment.<\/p>\n
“Even people on medical aid and have good employment are struggling,” he said, adding that\u00a0by pooling resources and buying the Herceptin in bulk would mean the drug would cost less.<\/p>\n
The problem, according to him,\u00a0was that 4.4 percent of SA’s GDP was spent by the private sector which only caters for 16 percent of the population, while the remaining 4.1 percent was spent by the public sector which services 84 percent of the population.<\/p>\n
10 Facts To Know About NHI<\/h2>\n
When asked about how the NHI will work, Health Minister Motsoaledi said:<\/p>\n