Spotlight on NHI: Broad support for Bill at KZN hearings
NHI Public hearings in Mzimkhulu, KZN. Photo: Zwelethemba Kostile/ParliamentRSAThe parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health has wrapped-up the KwaZulu-Natal leg of its public hearings on the NHI Bill. While there was broad support for the Bill, a few people did express reservations.
Mlungisi Gumede attended the hearings in Durban, Mzimkhulu, and Endumeni.
The Durban hearing
Low turnout and poor organisation marred the public hearing for the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill held at Olive Convention Centre in Durban on 23 November.
The hearing was supposed to start at 10:00, but at the appointed time sound technicians and camera persons were still setting up and people were queuing outside the venue. The hearing eventually started an hour late.
Despite eThekwini comprising a large urban population, those who attended the Durban leg of the hearings could barely fill up the conference hall of the Olive Convention Centre.
Councillor Busi Ndlovu from the eThekwini Municipality delivered the welcome address on behalf of the mayor Mxolisi Kaunda who was absent.
She stressed the importance of the hearings on the NHI Bill. “Spearheaded by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health, these hearings mark an important milestone in our journey to achieve universal access to health care,” said Ndlovu.
“More South Africans are living longer, with average life expectancy increasing to 64 years in 2018 from a low of 53 years in 2005. This progress in life expectancy reflects improvements in the quality and availability of health care. However, a great, great deal still needs to be done to attain the universal goal of a better life for all,” she said.
Ndlovu said the eThekwini municipality saw the NHI as the only vehicle that will enable the people of South Africa to have access to affordable, quality health care services regardless of their socio-economic status, adding that the system will also address the issue of fragmentation in terms of funding in the health system.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we need this Bill to be finalised for ourselves, our children and the future generations in order to live a better life,” she said.
Chair of the Portfolio Committee on Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo thanked councillor Ndlovu for the welcome. Even though everyone who attended was given a pamphlet in English and isiZulu detailing the Bill, Dr Dhlomo took some time to paraphrase the Bill.
Mixed reaction
Dr Mags Moodley, who made a presentation on behalf of a group of general practitioners, said they were in favour of the Bill but cautioned that it should be run in an orderly manner. “The majority of people support the implementation of NHI as they feel that we cannot run two types of health systems, one for the privileged and the other one for the under privileged,” said Moodley.
Prominent Durban lobby group Active Citizens Movements (ACM) also supported the Bill. The ACM said at least 82% of South Africans used the overburdened public health system which was struggling to provide enough health care services.
“Globally, the UN and other agencies have adopted universal health coverage as a means to meeting the world’s health needs, In SA this takes the form of NHI,” said ACM.
The ACM cautioned the government that it was unconstitutional to exclude asylum seekers and illegal immigrants from receiving full health services. “The government needs to amend this part in the Bill before it is passed into law to avoid legal challenges that will ensue,” said the ACM.
Explaining the Bill, Dr Dhlomo said illegal immigrants and asylum seekers would only be able to receive emergency health assistance but not enjoy full health services.
Peter Dhlomo from Hammarsdale said he supports the Bill and called on the government to expeditiously start the programme. “NHI is a good programme which is going to close the gap between the poor and rich, as we are going to access universal health services,” he said.
Sicelo Mthimkhulu from KwaNdengezi also said he supports the Bill.
“Let me give you the reasons why I support NHI – the Constitution which is the supreme law of our country compels the state to respect, promote and fulfil the rights in the Bill of Rights. Some of these rights are protected under Section 27 stating that everyone has a right to have access to health care services. This section ties in with universal health care coverage which is a political choice and aims to make health care accessible to everyone,” said Mthimkhulu.
Chris Thompson from Pinetown said although he supported the Bill, he also wants to suggested that some parts be removed. “I suggest that we remove part of clause 8(2) referring to a voluntary medical insurance scheme. This part of the clause contradicts clause 33 of the Bill that says the future role of medical schemes would be complimentary as medical schemes cannot cover the same services as those covered by NHI,” said Thompson.
Zethu Khanyile from KwaMashu said she did not support the Bill.
“The government is failing to provide good health services in public clinics and hospitals at the moment. How is it going to be able to do better with the proposed system,” said Khanyile. She also wanted to know where the money to fund the NHI will come from.
There were also claims by some at the meeting that an ANC councillor from Hammarsdale provided residents from that area with food parcels. This could not be confirmed but a group of people clad in ANC T-shirts were seen with food parcels while the hearing was in progress. When the Spotlight reporter tried to photograph them, he was threatened with violence and told to back off.
The Mzimkhulu hearing
In another hearing held in Clydesdale Community Hall in Mzimkhulu in the Harry Gwala District on 24 November, the majority of attendees said they support the Bill but also raised some concerns.
The Clydesdale Community Hall was packed and some members of the community had to stand for most of the hearing.
Kids as young as 12 years old were seen in a queue outside the hall. When asked why they were there and what they know about NHI, one of them, Xolelwa Nkala (12) said: “Asizi ukuthi sizokwenzani lapha sitshelwe ukuthi asize lapha ukuze sizogcwalisa ihholo (we do not know what we are doing here we were told to come and fill up the hall.”
Sizakele Feni from Clydesdale said she supports the Bill because it is going to improve the lives of the poor. Another resident Msizi Lugaju from ward 3, in Ubuhlebezwe Municipality in Harry Gwala said he also supports the Bill. “NHI is going to help us all especially the poor and close the gap between the poor and the rich,’ said Lugaju.
Others were less hopeful.
Hlanganani Lukhozi said he did not see NHI succeed because of the high level of corruption in the country.
“Every year the department’s budget is increased but services are dwindling instead of increasing. If you talk to the chair of the committee it sounds nice, but practically it is not the case. The government is going to even be in control of people with medical aids. Chair, we are told that in order to have a good life we need to eat healthy, but if I come to you and said please give me a portion of your salary you will refuse. It’s the same thing that you want to do now (with NHI). You are now saying people who pay for medical aids must fund NHI which is not fair,” said Lukhozi.
Lukhozi called on the government to improve the current health system.
“The problem that we have is corruption – the same problem that is going to cripple NHI because you are saying there will be a board that is going to administer the fund. Currently SAA has a board but the entity is failing to pay its staff, which is also going to happen with NHI. We will be told that doctors and nurses were not paid and they are on strike because of corruption in the government system,” said Lukhozi.
Others pleaded for inclusion in provisions of the Bill.
A traditional healer Zamani Phoswa said he supports the Bill but warned that the programme won’t succeed if it is going to exclude traditional leaders.
The Endumeni hearing
On 25 November the committee concluded its public hearings in the province at the Endumeni Local Municipality at the Glencoe Town Hall. This hall was also packed to full capacity.
Residents from Dundee highlighted the problems they face on a daily basis in their communities. These include the lack of ambulances and shortage of medicine and staff at health facilities.
Dr Dhlomo reminded the public that they can still make written submissions on the Bill until Friday, 29 November 2019.
