The ANCYL calls for the fast tracking of the National Health Insurance Plan for the benefit of South African Citizens
22 September 2023
The African National Congress Youth League (ANC Y L) calls for the fast tracking of the National Health Insurance plan to address the inequalities in the South African healthcare system. The NHI Bill provides a framework for massive reforms to the South African healthcare system. The ANCYL calls on both the ANC health sub-committee and the parliamentary portfolio committee on health to fast track the implementation of the NHI bill as it will urgently address the inequalities in South African healthcare system.
Currently less than 10% of the population receives quality healthcare services while more than 90% of our population receive healthcare services in a system that is underfunded, understaffed, under-resourced and overcrowded. The freedom charter of 1955 states advocated for "A preventative health scheme that shall be run by the state". Years into democracy this objective has not been achieved, instead a two-tier healthcare system was created which systematically divided and citizens based on their class position. The cost of accessing the private healthcare system has escalated to the point whereby only wealthy can afford it. The public healthcare system services the rest of the country who in their vast majority are poor and vulnerable.
The ANCYL is concerned that the current public healthcare system is overburdened, and this situation is exacerbated by the influx of illegal foreign nationals and those awaiting to apply for refugee status. As such the ANCYL is of the firm view that only South African citizens (by birth or Naturalisation) should be allowed to register on the NHI database. This approach is not exclusionary but rather follows the general global trend implemented by majority of countries with regards to their National Health Insurance schemes.
The ANCYL supports the principle that the NHI should be implemented in various stages to avoid the NHI fund from collapsing. The organisation firmly supports the call that the NHI starts by funding primary health care e.g. ambulances, clinics, and general practitioners. Thereafter the stage is to build up to funding secondary, tertiary and quaternary healthcare. This will provide time for the NHI fund to invest in infrastructure and equipment for district, regional and tertiary hospitals.
ANCYL 26TH National Congress Resolutions
The 26th National Congress of the ANCYL resolved in its overwhelming majority to support the 11 chapters of the NHI Bill. The Congress furthermore highlighted and reaffirmed the following points emerging from the Bill:
1. The establishment NHI Fund as a legally defined organ of the state.
2. The appointment of a board as a control measure for the NHI Fund.
3. The categorisation of beneficiaries and services covered by the NHI fund.
4. The contracting of accredited providers of personal health care services and allowance for the Minister of health to determine criteria for accreditation and reimbursement of health care providers by the NHI fund.
5. A provision that allows the Minister to determine health care benefits that will be reimbursed through the NHI Fund, as well as the service coverage and cost measurement provisions.
In addition, the ANCYL is also of the firm view that the Deputy Minister of Health must be made a permanent board member of the NHI fund to ensure that the actions of the board are congruent with the mandate of the government.
ANCYL Submissions on the NHI Bill
The National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill is currently before the National Council of Provinces and residents of each province will have the opportunity to comment on this bill. The ANCYL is committed to actively participating in the process and forwarding its submissions which will also include the following youth related healthcare projects that must be fast tracked parallel to the NHI implementation plan.
1. The establishment of a comprehensive teenage pregnancy prevention plan that advocates that high school girls are placed on a form of contraceptive. The ANCYL is of the view that the 3 years etonogestrel
implant would be ideal depending on the individual health conditions of recipients.
2. The ANCYL calls for the fast-tracking of dedicated youth zone programs in all NHI funded primary healthcare facilities.
3. The NHI fund must fund and capacitate HPV vaccination campaigns in all primary schools in the county so that all young girls are vaccinated. This is to ensure that they don't develop cervical cancer in their elderly years.
4. The NHI fund must facilitate the distribution of free sanitary products.
5. The NHI fund in its first phase must build at least one rehabilitation center in every district municipality to address and treat drug abuse amongst the youth of our county.
6. The NHI board must work with various stakeholders to ensure that current laws that prevent underage drinking are enforced so that we address alcohol abuse amongst the youth of our county.
7. The NHI board must work with the department of education to bring back physical training and exercise programs in primary and high schools to combat the increasing rate of obesity amongst teenagers and children that makes them vulnerable to none-communicable diseases.
The ANCYL calls upon its structures, members, and supporters to actively participate in the provincial public hearings to ensure that the NHI bill and its implementation are reflective of the collective needs of the country. The African National Youth League is committed to attainment of quality healthcare for all South African citizens and calls for the speedy implementation of NHI fund to resolve the current crisis plaguing the public healthcare system.
Issued by Zama Khanyase, ANCYL National Spokesperson, 22 September 2023
