More Support for NHI

August 4 - The Chairman of the Board of Healthcare Funders in South Africa has come out in a statement of support for the introduction of a National Health Insurance system for the country.

The Board represents the majority of the medical schemes in South Africa.

The BHF is due to hold a meeting this week to discuss the implementation of such a system, and how the group can be involved.

"We think we will be able to play a meaningful role," said the chairman, Clarence Mini, at a unique press conference that was held on Friday last week.

The Board of Healthcare Funders believes that it is best to be involved in the introduction of the NHI and assist in implementing it.

The Managing Director of the Board, Humphrey Zokufa said: "We support the NHI and are going a step further to make proposals on it."

The BHF wants to consolidate its plan of involvement before the NHI draft bill is put to Parliament in December.

The NHI plans to combine public and private health sectors.

"Next week we will consult our full membership," said Zokufa. "We want to make sure the NHI does not cause much turbulence in South Africa."

The BHF also believes that the medical schemes that it represents could find additional business opportunities beyond the present 7 million people that they serve, and could extend to the nearly 50 million throughout South Africa.