ALTHOUGH it will take 14 years to fully implement the National Health Insurance plan, Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi says his department has already made strides to improve public healthcare.
Speaking at the SA Medical Association (Sama) conference at Emperors Palace, in Johannesburg, Motsoaledi said the NHI, which is currently being piloted at 10 districts around the country, was on track.
Motsoaledi said part of the department's programme included the introduction of school-based medical services where children from creche up to school-going level will be thoroughly and regularly examined.
In preparation for the NHI, the minister said engineers from within the department have been sent out to assess the infrastructure of hospitals and clinics in the pilot districts, which are OR Tambo in Eastern Cape, Pixley ka Seme (Northern Cape), Vhembe (Limpopo), Eden (Western Cape, Dr Kaunda (North West), Thabo Mafutsanyane (Free State) and Mzinyathi and uMgungundlovu (KwaZulu-Natal).
The projects will run for five years and will help the department to assess the requirements to implement the NHI.
Some of the plans include employment of 10 trained primary healthcare workers in each municipal ward.
General practitioners have also been asked to dedicate at least four hours a week at a public healthcare facility and will be paid directly by the national office.
Sama acting chairman Mark Sonderup said private practioners were willing to assist.
'Health insurance is on track'
ALTHOUGH it will take 14 years to fully implement the National Health Insurance plan, Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi says his department has already made strides to improve public healthcare.
Speaking at the SA Medical Association (Sama) conference at Emperors Palace, in Johannesburg, Motsoaledi said the NHI, which is currently being piloted at 10 districts around the country, was on track.
Motsoaledi said part of the department's programme included the introduction of school-based medical services where children from creche up to school-going level will be thoroughly and regularly examined.
In preparation for the NHI, the minister said engineers from within the department have been sent out to assess the infrastructure of hospitals and clinics in the pilot districts, which are OR Tambo in Eastern Cape, Pixley ka Seme (Northern Cape), Vhembe (Limpopo), Eden (Western Cape, Dr Kaunda (North West), Thabo Mafutsanyane (Free State) and Mzinyathi and uMgungundlovu (KwaZulu-Natal).
The projects will run for five years and will help the department to assess the requirements to implement the NHI.
Some of the plans include employment of 10 trained primary healthcare workers in each municipal ward.
General practitioners have also been asked to dedicate at least four hours a week at a public healthcare facility and will be paid directly by the national office.
Sama acting chairman Mark Sonderup said private practioners were willing to assist.
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