News Desk | NHI

Nicholas Crisp rejects new NHI claims as alarmist

10 May 2024, 10:00
Contributor: Linda Ravenhill

Professor Nicholas Crisp, Deputy Director-General for National Health Insurance (NHI) in the Department of Health, has criticized Khulekani Mathe's opinion piece about the NHI Bill, cautioning against repeating alarmist claims about the scheme. Responding to Mathe's piece in the Business Times, Crisp argued that Mathe misunderstood the NHI and had echoed others' opinions without fully understanding the Bill. 

Crisp questioned Mathe's assertion that public servants lose subsidies from the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS), stating that the two are unrelated. He went on to dismiss concerns about tax credits and emphasized the need for proper public understanding of NHI mechanisms. Regarding claims of constitutional breaches and threats of court challenges delaying NHI, Crisp emphasized the department's willingness to address concerns but urged opponents to engage constructively.

Meanwhile, the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) have expressed their readiness to challenge the NHI Bill should the President sign it into law, citing concerns about its impact on private healthcare funding and the economy. BHF Managing Director Dr Katlego Mothudi argued that the NHI could weaken healthcare provision and damage the national health system by restricting the role of the private sector.

The BHF has advocated for a balanced approach that upholds universal health coverage (UHC) principles while preserving the private health sector's contributions to the economy and public health. They sought amendments to the bill to address constitutional issues and safeguard the private health sector's role in healthcare provision.

This is a compiled article sourced from: 
Business Times: NICHOLAS CRISP: Patent nonsense and deep confusion about NHI
Business Times:   OPINION KHULEKANI MATHE: Private sector must participate in NHI


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