SAMA: Majority of Members Plan on Emigrating Due to Lack of Faith in NHI
- The SA Medical Association revealed that a substantial amount of doctors in Mzansi plan on leaving the country after the intro of the National Health Insurance
- SAMA supports around 12k doctors in the country and it stated recently that a majority of its members do not support the NHI and are planning to emigrate
- Many have shown a lack of faith in the country's leaders and government and their ability to financially support the NHI
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The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has stated that an incredibly large amount of doctors will emigrate from South Africa following the scheduled introduction of the National Health Insurance (NHI).
SAMA is currently supporting the interests of over 12 000 medical doctors in South Africa, it confirmed that its members cannot support the NHI as it stands.
This statement and mentality stem from a lack of confidence cemented and strengthened over the years; having little to no faith in the capacity of government and its financial ability to ensure the success of the service.
Source: Getty Images
According to BusinessTech, a survey conducted by SAMA confirmed that a total of 38% of its members have made the decision to leave South Africa on account of the scheduled introduction of the NHI.
Around 6% of its members confirmed that they plan to leave for other reasons and 17% of doctors said that they were undecided regarding emigrating. A portion of doctors stated that the focus should initially be on fixing the public sector to a state where it can start to appeal to private sector patients.
In addition, they emphasised that there should be a back and forth with private doctors to provide additional services funded by the state. The government has been criticised for disregarding comments and submissions around the NHI that express views that are not a positive reflection of the system.
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Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa stated in an interview with SABC:
“It was a survey that really was to test the waters and to understand the feeling of our members as it relates to the implementation of the NHI as it is currently structured.
"If you look at the sample itself it's really not a very big sample so it can really be taken that it is a true reflection but it is a warning to us that doctors and health care professionals are really concerned about what is envisioned in the NHI in its current form”
In other news, Briefly News recently reported that the Health Professions Council (HPCSA) has said that South Africa’s new National Health Insurance (NHI) should be the only funding for health in the country. The council has called on the laws of the country to be changed to reflect that.
Speaking to Parliament earlier this week, HPCSA president Professor Simon Nemutandani said that although private medical aid schemes can continue to exist, they are to be funded separately.
The NHI should be funded through taxes paid by all employed South Africans.
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Source: Briefly News
