National Health Insurance Project (NHI)
STATUS: Current
PROJECT LEADER:
Hongoro, C (Prof. Charles)OTHER TEAM MEMBERS:
Makoae, MG (Dr Mokhantso),
Bohler, N (Prof. Narnia),
Roberts, BJ (Dr Benjamin),
Struwig, J (Dr Jare),
Ramaphakela, TH (Ms Tshegofatso), Nkosi, M (Mr Moremi),
Plantinga, PS (Dr Paul)DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE:
Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES)
Abstract
AIM:
21- 22 FY: To assess South African's public perceptions and attitudes towards NHI and the confounding effects of Covid-19.
More specifically the survey seeks to solicit social attitudes and perceptions in the following aspects of the NHI:
1. Rationale for NHI- is there still support for the basis of introducing NHI and the reasons for that; what has been the effect of Covid-19; is health system integration optional or a
necessity, etc.
2. Governance/Institutional arrangements the Bill refers to a single fund and single paper, an executive management team and a board, and various technical subcommittees public trust and accountability, and risk management questions arise
3. Strategic Purchasing and Procuring services to be provided, accreditation of providers, contracting of both public and private providers, reimbursement methods, accounting to the funder and beneficiaries, etc.
4. Quality of services will NHI quality in terms of inputs-processes-outcomes?
5. Contributions views on the notion of contribution (prepayments) by ability to pay and use by need, the effect of Covid-19 on employment and household incomes, use of tax , etc.
6. Role of medical schemes future role in the context of NHI, complementary cover, etc.
7. Implementation issues incremental, timing, etc.
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22-23: HSRC/DCES intends to take full advantage of the longitudinal value that SASAS provides as a national survey of valuable public opinion on key policy matters such as NHI. NHI remains a key priority of government within the health sector. The priority is to transform the health system into one that contributes to universal health coverage by aligning reforms to the National Development Plan Vision 2030 and the National Department of Health's APP 2022/23 priorities and programmes.
The NHI Dialogue/Seminar/Roundtable will provide a key opportunity to showcase the HSRC's thought-leadership in the health sector policy discourse, taking advantage of the findings from the SASAS dataset to inform, direct and influence public discourse on NHI priorities and perceptions.
The publication/policy brief and the accompanying community engagements contribute towards the HSRC's mandate of "responding to the needs of vulnerable and marginalised groups in society through research and analysis of developmental issues, thus contributing to the improvement of the quality of their lives". NHI is intended to address the inequities of the health system, and to meet the needs of the most vulnerable groups (women, children, elderly and the disabled) in society.
