Health Ministry Discusses NHI Costs

February 25 - A meeting of the government appointed Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC)  to discuss the implementation of the National Health Insurance scheme was held this week in Cape Town.

While the committee insists that plans to introduce the NHI scheme are "on course", it was unable to provide the cost implications for the proposed scheme.

The committee said that only once the details of the scheme had been finalized would it be able to provide a clearer picture about costs.

A number of organizations have provided input over the cost of the scheme, including Econox, which indicated that implementation would be beyond the financial means of the government.

The committee said it was concerned with the Econox report and said: "It is at this stage impossible to accurately project the NHI costs outside a policy framework and with work still underway."

"While the role of various experts in the field is appreciated, parties are urged to refrain from making unfounded claims about the NHI under the full details of the scheme have been finalized," requested the MAC.

The Ministry of Health also added: "Cost details of the NHI can only be determined  once details on the scheme have been finalized."

The Ministerial Advisory Committee is made up of a number of experts who come from various fields in South Africa and abroad.

The recent meeting focused on the actual workings of the committee and other technical issues.

It also touched on a report regarding the economic benefits of a National Health Insurance scheme.