DStv Channel 403 Thursday, 19 December 2024

NHI Bill | SAMA blasts signing as publicity stunt

JOHANNESBURG - The SA Medical Association says the system is not ready for National Health Insurance.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will sign the Bill into law today.

SAMA says this is merely a publicity stunt ahead of elections.

It says more work is needed to fix infrastructure and address staff shortages.

WATCH: PANEL DISCUSSION | NHI | POISON PILL OR MIRACLE MEDICINE?

"We have already said in public that we support the objectives of the NHI because all of us want universal health coverage," said SAMA chairperson Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa.

"If you are talking about NHI it is not going to build roads, it is not going to build hospitals, it is not going to be hiring the shortage of doctors and nurses attend to those resources.

"You are only attempting to fix the finances but you forget about other important pillars like ethical leadership and governance, staffing, shortage of vaccines and medicine and technologies," he said.

"The system is just not ready. What will be happening today is just a PR exercise."

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