Health minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi recently announced the 10 health districts chosen at part of a project to pilot Government’s National Health Insurance (NHI) system.
The implementation of NHI is part of the national health department’s 10-point programme. NHI is to be implemented gradually in three phases over a 14 year period.
The first phase will occur in the next five years and will aim to deliver a significant improvement of the health services on offer to these communities.
One of the main aims of the pilots will be to reduce the high maternal and child mortality rates in these areas. The pilots will also assess whether the health service package, the Primary Health Care teams and a strengthened referral system will improve access to quality health services, particularly in the rural and previously disadvantaged areas of the country.
The selected pilot districts have huge variations when it comes to population size with Tshwane district in Gauteng recording close to three million residents and Pixley ka Seme in the Northern Cape close to 200 000.
There will be several focus areas and indicators, but the non-negotiables identified include:
1. Infection Control Services
2. Medicines and Medical Supplies including Dry Dispensary
3. Cleaning Materials and Services
4. Essential Equipment and Maintenance of Equipment
5. Laboratory Services: National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS)
6. Blood Supply and Services: South African National Blood Services (SANBS) or Western Province Blood Transfusion Services (WPBTS)
7. Vaccines
8. Food Services and Relevant Supplies
9. Child Health Services (Including Neonatal and Perinatal)
10. Maternal and Reproductive Health Services
11. Registrars
12. Pilot Districts Full Complement of Primary Health Care Teams / Family Care Teams
13. School Health (Quintile 1 and Quintile 2 Schools)
14. District Specialist Teams
15. Infrastructure Maintenance
16. HIV & AIDS
17.TB
18. Security Services
For profiles on each of the 10 districts, click here.
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