Abstract
The South African health system both in the public and private sectors is fraught with many challenges which render the system unsustainable, costly, hospi-centric, and destructive. In order to curb this loop hole in the health sector, South Africa introduced the National Health Insurance (NHI) that is aimed at providing universal coverage of health care. The objectives of NHI is to provide improved access to quality health services for all South Africans irrespective of whether they are employed or not; to pool risks and funds so that equity and social solidarity will be achieved through the creation of a single fund, to procure services on behalf of the entire population and efficiently mobilize and control key financial resources and to strengthen the under-resourced and strained public sector so as to improve health systems performance. This paper evaluates the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GER), New Growth Path (NGP) and National Development Plan (NDP) policies to determine the challenges and positive aspects of these policies that can be used for the successful implementation of the NHI. The paper further draws lessons from Singapore that has already implemented the NHI and argues that South Africa can learn a lot from these countries experiences. It is concluded that each of the countries provide inspiring positive lessons and also show areas of challenges from which South Africa can draw some lessons. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p2722
Highlights
The key questions surrounding health care systems around the world include among others; (a) how to raise revenues to pay for health care,(b) how to pool risks and resources, (c) how to organize, deliver health care in the most efficient and cost effective manner
It is evident that the lessons from Singapore offer South Africa valuable lessons to successfully implement National Health Insurance (NHI)
It is against this background that it would not be prudent to adopt the exact model used in foreign countries to implement NHI in South Africa
Summary
The key questions surrounding health care systems around the world include among others; (a) how to raise revenues to pay for health care,(b) how to pool risks and resources, (c) how to organize, deliver health care in the most efficient and cost effective manner. The NHI in Singapore is operationalized by a model that seeks to answer the questions raised above on providing access to health care for all citizens ( Lim 2012). South Africa is in the process of adopting its own model of NHI that is underpinned by various national economic growth policies implemented since 1994 ( Mayosi et al 2009). The second part will discuss the South African position regarding the NHI in the context of economic growth policies adopted since 1994. The third and final part of the paper will look at the lessons that can be drawn from the Singaporean system and the recommendations that can aid South Africa to implement a successful health system that will enable citizens to access quality health care
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