Cosatu welcomes passing of NHI bill

JOHANNESBURG - There's been widespread criticism of the passing of the National Health Insurance Bill, but Cosatu is not one of those critics.

It says the health system is due for an overhaul.

Cosatu spokesperson Matthew Parks said the status quo is broken.

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"Both the public sector and the private sector, we cant continue to believe that the status quo works," he said.

"We have about 8.5 percent of our GDP spent on healthcare, half of that goes to taking care of about 14 percent of society which can afford private medical aid, as a consequence you see a heavily under utilised private medical industry but luxurious at times private medical industry.

"85 percent of the country is then forced to go public healthcare which is breaking at the seams because of lack of funds, aging infrastructure, huge levels of vacancies in critical posts doctors and paramedics, nurses and so forth, long queues, shortage of medication and so forth.

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"The status [quo] is not working, we figured at times that healthcare is constitutional right, all South African should have that right, we should not be basing it upon income levels or affordability, we should not be waiting for some type of miracle to occur," he said.

"So we support, as Cosatu and our unions including the health workers unions, support the national health insurance, we are very pleased the national assembly as passed it.

"It has been one of the most extensive and inclusive public consultation processes since 1994 with more than three years of hearings, about 60 public hearings across the country over the past three years.

"So we think what's helpful is that people who critical issues rather provide solutions, how can it be enriched? What are the weaknesses? How can it be strengthened?"