More Info Needed on NHI

June 2 - A 200 page report on the introduction of a National Health Insurance (NHI) system to South Africa was created in February. However, due to the fact that the report was not in the public domain, the ANC has not explained how the new system will actually work.

Health experts are now calling on the government to make the report public so that it can be commented on and debated before the new system goes live.

Public Health Expert professor, Heather McLeod is only one of many professionals urging the government to put the report to the people before implementation takes place.

"It is important to put it into the public domain so that we can discuss and comment on what is really going to happen," said Prof. McLeod. "We are getting mixed messages at the moment about the NHI and when it is going to go live."

McLeod said the entire system surrounding the phasing in of the NHI was a mystery, including questions such as how the millions of South Africans who had no form of income would be included in the insurance system, or what role the private health sector would play in the new system.

McLeod said that experts such as herself would be able to advise the government and shine some light on some of the areas where improvements may take place. For example, she said that the importance of bringing more young people into the system was paramount, as they would be contributing to the pool of funds while they are healthy and claiming less.  In this way, more money would be available and costs could be brought down.

Recent statistics show that a whopping 30 million people in South Africa are dependent on the public sector for health care, nearly 10 million people have some form of mixed private and public health insurance, while only seven million people in South Africa have full private health insurance.