SECTION27 SECTION27

Our panelists, Dr. Francois Venter, Thabang Pooe, Shaita Goga, and Umunyana Rugege are in conversation with Ferial Haffajee about what we can learn from the HIV epidemic and crises like the Limpopo Textbook Case and Life Esidimeni to help us overcome the challenges we face with Covid19. The panel also discusses a possible future where the country is living with Covid19 for the foreseeable future. They debate the impact on the economy and the role that civil society can plan to ensure that human rights are upheld.   

The National Health Insurance has the potential to fundamentally transform the health system if it is implemented with care and sequenced properly. If we do not set up the system so that it is more transparent and less susceptible to corruption, we risk continuing the inequalities that exist in our healthcare system. Ahead of the Finance Minister's Budget in February 2020, it is important that we engage with the kinds of investment required to make sure that NHI adequately meets the needs of the people in this country. 

Parliament is conducting public hearings on the National Health Insurance Bill. Is the process legitimate? Are people getting the opportunity to voice their concerns and reservations about the Bill? Anele Yawa, General Secretary of the Treatment Action Campaign speaks about the steps that his organisation and other civil society partners are taking to ensure that people are able to contribute meaningfully to the process of the public hearings on the NHI! 

In this episode, SECTION27's legal researcher Tendai Mafuma outlines some of the concerns relating to the governance structures outlined in the National Health Insurance Bill. To learn more about these concerns read her article in our publication Spotlight. https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2019/09/05/spotlight-on-nhi-will-inadequate-governance-arrangements-be-nhis-achilles-heel/

Disclaimer: This episode was recorded at SECTION27's offices using a podcast mike and a Bluetooth speaker. The sound quality will be affected by environmental noise. 

In this episode Spotlight Editor Marcus Low outlines some of the concerns around the lack of transparency and accountability structures in the current version of the NHI Bill

Sasha Stevenson, head of the health rights programme at SECTION27 explains what the proposed National Health Insurance Bill says and outlines some of the key concerns around the information not included in the bill and the areas on which healthcare users should be asking for clarity. She provides an overview of the three major aspects of the NHI Bill that we think need to change. 

1. Governance – The Minister of Health appoints the NHI Fund Board members (after appointing the ad hoc panel that interviews and recommends them), the Board Chairperson, and the CEO of the NHI Fund. In simple terms, decision-making is far too concentrated.

2. Transparency – To increase public trust in the NHI and to reduce the risk of corruption under NHI, it is imperative that all NHI-related processes and decisions are as transparent as possible.

3. Try before you buy – The NHI Bill introduces a range of new structures and administrations that are untested. We are bringing the establishment of these new structures into law, with no way to turn back if they fail, and without any transition provisions that could stagger implementation and allow for learnings.