Nehawu response on Minister Manto Tshabalala statement 16-07-08

 

MEDIA STATEMENT – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, 15 July 2008

THE MINISTER MANTO TSHABALALA’S STATEMENTS

UNDERMINES THE ANC PROCESS ON NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE

The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) is deeply concerned regarding the media reports (Business Day, , “National Health Cover Edges Closer,15 July 2008) in which the Minister of Health allegedly declared that she will present a “National Health Insurance Policy” to Cabinet tomorrow and that once approved, will become the official public discussion document.

Furthermore, it was reported that the Minister had made claims that the process of implementing NHI had already begun with the current health bills before Parliament (http://www.doh.gov.za/docs/sp/sp0714a-f.html). She refers to the amendments to the Medical Schemes Act and the National Health Act, amongst others.

If these statements are true then, we would like to point out that there is no process currently initiated within government to introduce NHI. The health bills before Parliament have nothing to do with the implementation of the ANC Polokwane resolution on NHI. Instead what the Minister is intending to do is to effectively undermine the Polokwane resolution and the process that the ANC has set in motion to develop a policy document and an implementation programme for NHI.

The National Executive Committee of the ANC has already appointed an ANC Task-Team (which includes members of COSATU) on NHI that meets regularly to realize the implementation of NHI. The ANC Task-Team has yet to consider government policy proposals and was also not consulted with regard to the Minister’s intentions as reported.

We call on the Minister to follow the process set by the ANC and not to proceed in any way until the ANC-Task Team has concluded its work in this regard. We also call on the ANC to intervene on this matter which is actually intended to by-pass the ANC process.

Issued by NEHAWU Communications Department

For further information, please contact Priscilla Khumalo (NEHAWU Media Liaison Officer) at 082 558 5973 or email: Priscilla@nehawu.org.za

Visit NEHAWU website: www.nehawu.org.za