Let’s find out about the National Health Insurance (NHI) plan. Simply put, it’s a bad idea.
There may be different and more effective ways to provide health to the public, but is that really the ambition? If the country really cares about health care and provides it to the people, there will be a more significant reaction to Nehawu’s attack.
Nor can we make the mistake of thinking it’s just nurses on strike. When it comes to Nehawu, there are several allied workers, and collectively, they are essential to the functioning of the hospital.
Does that mean no one is allowed to go on strike? Maybe, but the strike ban provides more clarity.
There were no directives from the strike leaders or the government
Fast forward to a few days later. MECs visit hospitals and some lip service is paid to ideals like non-violence, but uhm… About that…
Also Read: WATCH: Hospital patient sent home as Nehawu attack turns violent [LIVE]
The strike has been ongoing and worrying, continues in various forms.
Some hospitals are closing more than others. Some nurses only go on strike in the morning and return to work in the evening.
There seems to be no national coordination other than deciding to go on strike.
After that, the tail is left to wag anything.
That would not be the case if the rules were made clear or if there were proper arrests when someone stepped outside the law. As a hypothetical, if someone is accused of bringing a panga to an ambulance, it is better to know that they will be arrested rather than sent back to take care of hospital patients.
It is more worrying because some parties want to die nationally in the coming days and there is no guidance on what will happen. Well wait, no, there is some guidance, though more warning that businesses that stay open will get the looted amount.
I know that’s not exactly “guidance” but don’t be surprised when businesses get looted after that.
This does not add up. You can’t hope that you want to overhaul the healthcare industry to give access to more people, but you can’t deal decisively with questionable strike action that prohibits access to healthcare.
Also Read: ‘They won’t get it’ – Nehawu attack to seek 10% raise ‘pure stupidity’
South Africans tell us not to believe our own eyes and ears
But this is the South African way – we can tell that they are in electricity problems, after more than a decade of increasing black out.
We can be told that there are concerns about crime when bribery is an unofficial national sport. We can be told anything even to the contrary, and still expect to accept what we are told.
It’s time for the country and its actors to roll the ball and walk.
It’s time, but we’ve been sitting at this cozy braai all morning, pretending like 8am on a Monday isn’t even close. It’s not like we can pretend to keep believing these stories, when we have direct evidence to the contrary.
Little hope for NHI’s success
I know that NHI talk has been quiet, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
Also Read: NHI Bill: The challenges we face are enormous
Maybe it means there is no patronage plan yet or maybe it means something else.
The discussion can be done quickly, immediately, and when it happens, we must remember how the same people who brought it to us, dealt with the striking hospital workers.
If this is an attempt to provide health care to the masses, I have only two questions: Why is public health through public hospitals failing and why is it okay for workers, in some cases to earn more than in the private sector, the device is down in the your supervision. ?
Good luck answering that question. It might be easier than trying to get treatment in a public hospital, but I mean, what public official ever goes public?