MIDDELBURG – Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Jane Sithole has challenged Mpumalanga Health MEC Sasekani Manzini to confront the reality of the province’s readiness for the National Health Insurance (NHI).
Sithole, the party’s provincial leader, responded to MEC Manzini’s issuance of NHI compliance certificates to public clinics in the province. On Tuesday, 2 April, Manzini presented certificates to 34 clinics at an event held in Middelburg as a token of recognition for their excellence. The MEC also disclosed that 34 out of 94 facilities in the Nkangala district had been declared compliant by the Office of Health Standard Compliance (OHSC). She further mentioned that 123 out of 292 facilities met OHSC standards, with Ehlanzeni ranking second highest at 36 out of 124 and Gert-Sibande leading with 53 out of 74.
“The certification of these facilities serves as evidence that our province is embracing the implementation of the National Health Insurance. It demonstrates our commitment to offering improved and accessible healthcare services that are safe, effective, and responsive to the needs of our people,” said the MEC at an event in Middelburg.
The MEC emphasized the importance of prioritizing the alignment of all remaining health facilities with OHSC standard requirements as the country awaits the President to enact the NHI Bill into law.
However, Sithole questioned the significance of issuing certificates, arguing that it did not necessarily imply general compliance of all health facilities with NHI standards. “If they are all compliant as she claimed, then why were only 34 clinics given compliant certificates, and not all of them?” she asked. “This is also in stark contrast to MEC Manzini’s own assertions that all public healthcare facilities are NHI compliant, while not a single public hospital in the province is NHI compliant. The MEC should heed the South African Medical Association (SAMA), who have confirmed that the South African Health System is not ready for NHI.”
