OPINION: Budget 2023 – opportunity missed to refocus public health spending?

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, NHI

Budgets, while important, are not the right mechanism to drive the structural change needed to improve the responsiveness of our public health system in meeting the needs of the population. But, argues Russel Rensburg, we can reorient the health system towards meeting the health needs of the population and then let the budget bolster the reforms. Here he provides some suggestions on how to go about it and contrasts that with the budget announced by Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana this week.

OPINION: Budget 2023 – opportunity missed to refocus public health spending?

NHI hearings hit SOWETO and West Rand

Posted in: Gauteng, Latest, NHI, Provinces

Alarm bells are still ringing even as the final public NHI hearings hosted by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health wraps up in Gauteng this Monday.

Ailing health system in spotlight at OR Tambo NHI public hearing

Posted in: Latest, NHI

Residents of the OR Tambo District in the Eastern Cape were mostly in favour of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill at a public hearing in Mthatha, but raised questions on how it will solve problems in the Eastern Cape’s ailing health system, especially in rural areas.

Ailing health system in spotlight at OR Tambo NHI public hearing

NHI Lawmakers: On Godly callings and steering the NHI Bill – Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.

Posted in: Latest, NHI

ANC veteran Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo is chairperson of the National Assembly’s Portfolio Committee on Health and will play a pivotal role in deliberations over the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill. The question is – will it be about serving the people or toeing the party-line?

NHI Lawmakers: On Godly callings and steering the NHI Bill – Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.

Spotlight on NHI: Focus should be on building the public healthcare system

Posted in: Latest, NHI

As a strategic purchaser the NHI should be expressly pro-public sector and strategically focus on building capacity in under resourced areas such as clinics and hospitals in poorer urban communities and in rural facilities, writes Dr Lydia Cairncross.

Spotlight on NHI: Focus should be on building the public healthcare system

Health department considering private sector reforms

Posted in: Latest

Amy Green asked the Department of Health and others what happens next following the release of a landmark report into private healthcare in South Africa.

Health department considering private sector reforms

Spotlight on NHI: Why an Office of Health Products Procurement?

Posted in: Latest, NHI

The Office of Health Products Procurement is a new entity introduced in the 2019 version of the NHI Bill. Nkululeko Conco asks what it will mean for procurement under NHI.

Spotlight on NHI: Why an Office of Health Products Procurement?

Spotlight on NHI: Why private sector reforms are essential to making NHI work

Posted in: InFocus, Latest, NHI

Government’s National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill is not the only roadmap to quality healthcare for all in South Africa. The Health Market Inquiry into the private healthcare sector report points the way toward an alternative, possibly more effective, approach.