![]() ![]() Poor state of healthcare facilities and shortage of healthcare professionals were considered as the major impediment to the successful implementation of NHIS in South Africa. While the majority of respondents believed that both the government and the employees would contribute to the funding of the implementation of NHIS, others believed that the government would increase tax to fund the scheme (16%). Readiness of Mthatha General Hospital for the implementation of NHIS Health care professions knowledge of various aspects of NHIS. As such, this study was conducted to examine the level of awareness and perception of healthcare professionals in Mthatha General Hospital in OR Tambo district, one of the pilot sites for NHIS in the country. There are mixed reports on the healthcare professionals’ perceptions of NHIS in South Africa. ![]() A good understanding of the NHIS by the stakeholders may be a precursor of successful implementation of the scheme. The perceptions of the healthcare professionals on NHIS are informed by an awareness of the objectives as well as the implementation processes. However, a lack of appropriate infrastructure and shortage of equipment in NHI facilities were raised as major impediments to the implementation of the scheme. Surender et al., (2016) in Tshwane district reveals a strong support for NHIS by the general practitioners. A pilot study on the implementation of NHIS was conducted in some selected districts across the country. This scheme focused on reorganizing the current two-tiered (private and public healthcare) system in such a way as to allow access to quality and affordable health care services for all South Africans based on their health needs, irrespective of their socio-economic status. ![]() In a bid to tackle these challenges in the health sector, a National Health Insurance scheme (NHIS) (Green Paper in 2011) was formulated in 2011. These discrepancies in distribution of financial and human resources between the sectors contradict the fundamental rights of individuals regarding their health as enshrined in the constitution. This discrepancy in the distribution of funding has also influenced the distribution of healthcare providers with more than 50% of the country’s doctors and specialists in private sectors. The remaining 52% of the expenditure was spent in the private sector to serve only 7 million people in 2015/16. There is a great disparity between fund allocations between the two sectors in South Africa with an estimated 48% of the expenditure on health in the public sector which serves about 40 million populations. On the other hand, the private sector serves a small proportion of the population who opts for a medical scheme or Pay Out-Of-Pocket (OOP). However, the public healthcare system has always been known for its high patient volumes, poor funding and poor patient management. The public healthcare system, funded by the government, provides free healthcare to the majority of South Africans. The South African healthcare system is made up of the private and public service providers. However, full implementation of UHC is a daunting task in many low and middle income countries, including South Africa. Conversely, poor people of countries with non-existent UHC still have limited access to quality healthcare. Significant reduction in maternal, under five, infant and neonatal mortality ratio were observed following the introduction of UHC in Thailand, Brazil and Turkey. These countries have documented significant successes in the reduction of under-five and maternal mortality. Countries such as United Kingdom, Sweden, Turkey, Finland, Norway and Brazil have adopted the UHC. This strategy would hopefully narrow the gaps in access to healthcare between the rich and the poor in both developed and resource poor countries. The universal healthĬoverage (UHC), aimed at bridging the gap of inequality of access to healthcare, was recommended by the World Health Organization. As such, about 400 million people cannot access quality health care services and another 150 million individuals are plunged into financial woes annually due to the debt incurred from health spending worldwide. Inequality of access to health care services remains a threat to the poor and underprivileged individuals worldwide. ![]()
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