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Beds inside of a hospital.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says he supports ActionSA’s call for government to make it mandatory for public officials to use public hospitals.
ActionSA MP and health expert Dr Kgosi Letlape says implementing such a policy would improve the delivery of basic services and the conditions of public healthcare facilities.
Motsoaledi says the funds utilised for medical aid subsidies should be redirected to his department’s budget for essential services and maintenance.
“Everybody who gets their salary from the fiscus, that means (money) from the public service, they are entitled to subsidies on their medical aid to use private hospitals and that subsidy is R70-billion. Starting with the president to the lowest public servant, they are all subsidized for R70-billion. If there’s a policy that they must all use public hospitals, that R70-billion will immediately accrue to the public hospitals and we’ll be able to improve them.”
Government to build new healthcare facilities
Presenting the Health Department’s Budget Vote in the National Assembly yesterday, Motsoaledi said government is building and upgrading a number of clinics and hospitals, which include mental health facilities around the country to meet the growing demand for healthcare.
Among others, three new academic hospitals will be built in provinces that have never had them before: Mpumalanga, North West and the Northern Cape.
Motsoaledi says these infrastructural projects are necessary to prevent a situation where demand would exceed supply.
“The extreme overcrowding in our public health facilities is caused by rapid population growth and rapid urbanisation. Please remember that the public health system is utilised by 86% of South Africa’s population. Throw into the mix our neighbouring countries. If we do nothing, the demeaning scenes we see on national TV, like pregnant women sleeping on floors and in chairs will unfortunately be the order of the day,” added Motsoaledi.
SA to build six new academic hospitals – Motsoaledi:
-Additional reporting by Zalene Merrington
