I share your concern about any anxiety that might be there among South African medical professionals and that they might be tempted to want to leave the country which is not a
solution. I think if members of this House do not show enthusiasm for something which is supposed to be solidarity in the health's sphere, and are seen as providing negative vibes to our society, that is not going to help the professionals to stay in the country. We as members of this House must be very enthusiastic about this and therefore enthuse the rest of our society.
I just imagine, for example, some of the medical professionals saying that they are going to leave South Africa and go to the UK. They are going to meet the same thing there. In the UK it is called the National Health Service. Let's assume they go to Japan, they are going to meet the same thing. In Japan it is called universal health coverage. It is better to stay and make things better here at home - working together. Maybe we just need to improve our communications.
The team of doctors I met at Letaba Hospital were most enthusiastic about NHI. They went to the same medical schools and they are very enthusiastic to help the communities. In fact, a few of them used to be in the private sector schemes. One of them is a gynaecologist here in Cape Town. He is leaving private and he is going to Letaba Hospital to work there. And he is very enthusiastic about NHI. I think we must be very careful.
Also, let's not present a picture which seeks to suggest that medical health practitioners are white and that the patients are black. That will be distorting our view of the nonracial society that we are trying to create. Solidarity must be seen to be amongst blacks and whites, amongst rich and poor with the common purpose of building a successful country. I think that's what we should do. Whoever we hear wanting to leave the country let us encourage them to stay. Thank you.
Question 232: