South Africans who are currently subscribing to medical aid schemes through which they access private healthcare should not ditch their schemes just yet.
This is according to Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla who was reacting to perceptions the signing into law of the NHI Bill by President Cyril Ramaphosa anyone could just walk into any private healthcare facility and be attended to without paying.
The minister said the NHI was still in its early stages and that people should maintain whatever cover they currently have.
“Someone send me a message wherein a person said they are going to stop paying for their medical aid from the 30th. Yes NHI will ultimately allow all of us to get the same care but at this stage medical aid schemes are still necessary and people are advised not to stop their stop orders,” said Phaahla also explaining that the government will gradually identify medical services that can be covered by NHI at particular stages of implementation with standardised prices that private healthcare providers may charge.
Both the EFF and the DA rejected the NHI as a desperate electioneering exercise by the ruling ANC with the official opposition vowing to challenge the law in court.
The EFF said the government should have invested in the upgrading of health facilities in poor communities arguing that in its current form, the NHI will only benefit people in urban areas.