Speaker, the ACDP welcomes the Green Paper on the National Health Insurance. We recognise the desperate need for a radical turnaround in the delivery of health services. We are optimistic that, with all stakeholders applying their experience and expertise, we could move from merely repeating problems to actually delivering much-needed quality health services to all.
The immediate response tends to be: Yes, but we cannot afford it. While this may be true, we certainly can't afford not to do all in our power to see that we can. Everyone deserves quality health care and financing is always a problem.
The National Health Insurance, NHI, is a tried and tested mechanism which attempts to give cover to all. Of course, our experience and our needs will be uniquely our own, but even so, the fact that we can benefit from the trials, errors and successes of other countries is a definite advantage - if we are not too proud to learn and benefit.
Having observed the United Kingdom, UK, National Health System from near and far - for even the most limited period of time - I am encouraged that as monstrous as the task seems, it really could work. It really could bring much-needed relief in an area where we are struggling to get it right.
It is also interesting to me that one of our biggest concerns is always that we will lose more doctors and nurses than we already have. Clearly, if we don't do something, nothing will change. The reality in the UK is that doctors and nurses moved towards the National Health System, not away from it.
The present health care system is extremely expensive and unsustainable. However, firstly, there needs to be a radical improvement in the quality of health care services in public health facilities, which will require massive investment and improvement of health infrastructure, both buildings and equipment. The first five years of the NHI will focus on piloting and strengthening the health care system.
Once the NHI is implemented, it will become mandatory and offer all South Africans and legal residents access to a defined package of comprehensive health care. It will be piloted in 2012 to test how the service benefits will be designed, how the population will be covered and how the services will be delivered. A conditional grant will be provided for this purpose and no NHI contributions will be required in 2012. [Time expired.]