Latest news with #NationalHealthInsurance
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Will forcing MPs to use public healthcare make it better?
If somebody important gets rushed into a government hospital, throwing somebody out of ICU to make way for them wouldn't be an issue. Another day, and yet another suggestion from ActionSA that public officials should be forced to use public services, as if that will somehow make those services better. If it's not public officials being forced to use public transport, it's that they must send their kids to public schools. The latest from the Herman Mashaba camp is that public servants should use public healthcare services. One can nearly hear the internal laughter of Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi at the idea (one that he has publicly supported). Presumably, he has no problem supporting it, given that he's doubling down on the National Health Insurance (NHI). It would be pretty silly to advocate for the eventual blending of private and public healthcare, but demand that his ilk continue to be allowed to use private healthcare. Perhaps that was the strategy of ActionSA all along: getting Motsoaledi to admit a personal lust toward private healthcare. If that was the reason, it's gone down as well as a quirky Helen Zille tweet. ALSO READ: Bara hospital: The good, bad and ugly However, the actual idea of forcing public officials to use public services to create some sort of political investment incentive is not just stupid, it's divorced from any South African context. Maybe that would work in a country where there's some sort of honour, even if it's among thieves, but this is South Africa. This is the country where we dare not even introduce self-service checkouts at grocers because we know how disastrous that would be. So not only do we have to embrace the imposed moniker of 'Plastique?' but we also have to accept that for the right people, the public purse will get them anything from a fire pool to a trip to the Cannes Film Festival. How is it that despite the Department of Health never having any money, there are still so many awesome doctors in public hospitals? There may be no medicine for the plebeians, but the lights are still on, and if somebody important or a friend of a friend gets rushed in, throwing somebody out of the ICU to make way for them wouldn't be an issue. The problem has never been that we don't have the facilities to deal with sick people. The problem has always been that we don't have enough facilities to deal with all the sick people who are not politically important. ALSO READ: 'I could die before surgery': Cancer patient lost in Gauteng hospitals backlog I don't think Motsoaledi cares which hospital he ends up in. He could be in a rural clinic in Limpopo, but if they had to fly in the best medical team and equipment, best believe they'll do it. Whether they'd do that for Sam Nje is less likely. You're dealing with a class of people who can walk into any school and bump their kids straight into the classroom on the day school starts, while the rest of us have to apply in utero just to get on the waiting list. This is why forcing them to use public services is hardly going to make the public services any better. Remember that strange aunty in your family? The one whose house had a great lounge that nobody was allowed in because it had to be preserved in case the Queen, Nelson Mandela and the Pope decided to come visit — simultaneously. That's all you'll create when you force public servants to use public services: the white elephant room that will remain vacant in case the deputy minister of transport gets hit by a taxi nearby. It's a sad state of affairs that one feels the need to incentivise public servants to serve the public. It's an even sadder state of affairs when trying to create those incentives is a losing battle. Maybe the answer should be to appoint public servants who are enthusiastic about public service in the first place. I wonder if they thought about that. NOW READ: Tshwane mayor faces outrage for Weskoppies Hospital power cut
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
New board members across Gauteng hospitals
More than 200 newly appointed hospital board members have been inducted across Gauteng to help improve healthcare governance. MEC for Health and Wellness in Gauteng Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko speaking at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Picture: Gauteng Health In a move aimed at strengthening accountability and restoring trust in Gauteng's public healthcare system, the province's Department of Health on Friday inducted 222 new hospital board members who will serve across 34 public hospitals. The induction ceremony took place at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, where Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko officially welcomed the new members. 'Our people are ready to partner with us' The appointment follows an overwhelming public response, with more than 1 500 applications received from professionals and community leaders. Nkomo-Ralehoko said the large number of applicants was a sign of active citizenship. 'The overwhelming number of applications shows that our people are ready to partner with us to improve healthcare. It is a powerful sign of active citizenship and gives us hope for the future, especially as we march towards implementing the National Health Insurance,' said the MEC. She emphasised that the new board members are being brought on board at a crucial time, as Premier Panyaza Lesufi has identified poor service at public healthcare facilities as one of the province's 13 key challenges. 'From today, this problem becomes your problem too. You are our partners in restoring dignity, trust, and excellence in our facilities,' Nkomo-Ralehoko added. ALSO READ: Gauteng health rubbishes claims of corpses left in 'limbo' at Helen Joseph Hospital Diverse skills for better governance The new board members represent a range of backgrounds, including law, health, and community activism. Their role is voluntary and aimed at bolstering hospital governance, ensuring transparency, and improving the quality of care. Yamkela Rini, appointed to the board of Tara H. Moross Hospital, said the role comes with responsibility. 'Our role is not for financial benefit, but to ensure good governance, proper service delivery, and high standards of care. We want to help the Department of Health and hospital management address the growing number of litigations by improving quality and infrastructure,' he said. Lawyer Phillemon Lebelo, who joins the Jubilee Hospital board, highlighted the value of diversity among members. 'There is no greater honour than to serve your own community. Our collective experiences will greatly benefit the hospitals we are to serve in,' said Lebelo. ALSO READ: Water interruptions affect major Gauteng hospitals Term and vision The new boards will serve a three-year term from 1 July 2025 to March 2028. To ensure smooth transitions, the term of outgoing members was extended by three months. The department said these boards will be key in supporting hospital management and ensuring services remain patient-centred. Gauteng's new hospital boards are expected to drive the transformation of the public healthcare system and rebuild confidence among patients. NOW READ: Gauteng health MEC warns against denying foreign nationals health care access
The Mainichi
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Editorial: Japan politicians must stop fueling anti-foreigner sentiment for electoral gains
When politicians continue to stoke public alarm toward foreigners, they risk spreading xenophobic sentiment throughout society. For the July 20 House of Councillors race in Japan, multiple political parties have adopted campaign promises calling for stricter immigration policies and other measures targeting foreign residents. This is a development unseen in previous elections. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has embraced the slogan "zero illegal immigrants," promising stronger crackdowns on unlawful employment and proposing that any social insurance or medical bill payment defaults by foreigners could count against them during residency screenings. For its part, the opposition Democratic Party for the People (DPFP) cited national security concerns in support of tighter controls on foreign ownership of Japanese real estate. The party also proposed introducing new taxes to tackle speculative foreign investment, claiming that it's driving up domestic property prices. One party particularly prominent in its anti-foreigner stance is Sanseito, which has declared an explicit "Japanese First" platform. The minor party claims that increasing numbers of foreign workers suppress wages for Japanese citizens and calls for restricting their entry. It has also advocated halting welfare benefits to foreign nationals and tightening the criteria for acquiring Japanese citizenship. Weak basis for party platform pledges The backdrop to this intensified political rhetoric is Japan's growing foreign resident population, which reached about 3.77 million at the end of last year -- a record high accounting for 3% of the total population. Political parties argue this has resulted in increased crime and friction with locals, raising public safety and security concerns. On social media, statements claiming "foreigners are weakening public security," "foreigners exploit the medical care system during short stays" and "foreigners undeservedly receive welfare benefits" have been widely shared. Comments alleging foreigners receive preferential treatment have similarly proliferated online. Even more alarming are recent hate speech incidents targeting Kurdish residents in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, and elsewhere. Without understanding individual cases and context, some netizens accuse Kurds of being "fake refugees" or troublemakers. Political parties appear to be picking up and, by including countermeasures in their campaign promises, endorsing these claims. In reality, however, these assertions largely do not have a basis in fact. According to official government statistics, the number of crimes committed by foreigners has remained relatively the same for about the past 15 years. And as of January this year, there were around 75,000 individuals residing illegally in Japan -- less than a quarter of the peak. As for the National Health Insurance program, some surveys covering particular local municipalities have found lower contribution rates among foreign nationals. Even so, in proportion to overall medical expenses, those incurred by foreigners are extremely small. And on welfare benefits, foreign recipients currently receive payments based on national government guidelines. Foreign nationals in Japan remain inadequately protected by law, holding a precarious status. Even foreigners who duly pay taxes are excluded from political participation and voting rights. Policies of inclusion are essential With growing anxiety spreading among Japan's foreign-born communities, civil society groups assisting foreign nationals recently issued a joint emergency statement declaring: "Inciting xenophobic views fuels conflict with people of different nationalities and ethnicities, risking the breakdown of an inclusive society." A representative of one of the groups behind the statement noted, "With wages stagnating despite higher prices, many people are struggling to make ends meet. Against this backdrop, foreigners are being used as scapegoats." Such scapegoating rooted in discontent parallels the dynamics seen in European countries, and the United States under the administration of Donald Trump. Facing continued population decline and aging demographics, Japan has expanded its intake of foreign workers to offset labor shortages. As a result, foreign nationals have already become essential contributors to Japanese society. Japan must now prioritize policies that help people with diverse values live as fellow members of society. To fully participate in Japanese society, it's essential for foreign nationals to acquire the Japanese language, yet existing government support programs remain insufficient. Furthermore, working conditions that benefit everyone must be established. It's also important to create opportunities for meaningful interaction between Japanese and non-Japanese residents to help foreign nationals better understand social norms and expectations. In the 1990s, when Japan welcomed large numbers of Japanese descendants from Brazil and other countries, similar friction emerged in various communities. Yet in some areas, such as the Shizuoka Prefecture city of Hamamatsu and the Gunma Prefecture town of Oizumi, residents and local governments overcame initial barriers through sustained, creative efforts and eventually formed communities where people now support each other as neighbors. Human rights must be universally respected regardless of nationality. Correcting misinformation and fake stories about foreign nationals is an essential responsibility of politicians and government leaders, contributing toward eliminating prejudice and discrimination within society.
IOL News
6 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
DA suing its own government — legal blitz on ANC raises eyebrows in fragile GNU
A DA flag blows in a breeze with the South African flag behind it. Democratic Alliance (DA) has adopted an aggressive legal strategy, initiating at least four major court challenges against its Government of National Unity (GNU) partner, the ANC and several of its ministers but maintains double standards when needed. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has adopted an aggressive legal strategy, initiating at least four major court challenges against its Government of National Unity (GNU) partner, the ANC and several of its ministers but maintains double standards when needed. However, this assertive approach has raised concerns about apparent double standards. While the DA frames these legal actions as principled efforts to uphold constitutional democracy, critics argue they reflect a pattern of political inconsistency and selective accountability. High-profile figures such as Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane have been the subjects of DA allegations ranging from corruption to fraud. Most recently, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has come under the party's scrutiny. Despite the public attention these cases have received, none have resulted in a conviction — prompting questions about the DA's legal strategy, consistency, and overall credibility. The DA has also taken legal action against several key policy initiatives, including the Expropriation Act, the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, VAT increases, and Employment Equity reforms — all central to the ANC's policy agenda and widely anticipated within the GNU framework.
eNCA
7 days ago
- Health
- eNCA
Health Department tables budget that targets infrastructure and staffing
The Health Minister tabled a R64.8-billion budget, outlining plans to strengthen public hospitals, tackle disease burdens, and begin long-term infrastructure investment across the country. This comes amid pressure to prepare the system for National Health Insurance and address backlogs worsened by corrupt spending and population growth. Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi discussed the department's priorities and spending plans with eNCA.
