Hospital CEO supports NHI
“I think it’s the responsibility of us as government to deliver quality health services, and people should receive that service irrespective of whether they are rich or poor. For these reasons I support the NHI,” - CEO
Many South Africans hold strong views on the NHI system. With this said, the Advertiser asked the newly appointed Tambo Memorial Hospital acting CEO Dr Arthur Manning for their opinions on the NHI.
Dr Manning seems to be a strong supporter of the proposed new system, and described it as a new financing mechanism aimed at improving service delivery, not just for the public sector but for the country as a whole.
“Despite it being a very expensive system, I support the notion of the NHI because health is a basic right and not something that you should access because you can afford it.
According to the Department of Health, health-care facilities will only be part of the NHI system if they meet certain standards of care and are accredited by an independent body called the Office of Health Standards Compliance.
Therefore, we asked Dr Manning if he is confident that his facility has the potential to meet the set criteria.
“I think that as a hospital with a focused and dedicated staff, with the right management structure and funding, we will be able to accredit this hospital with the standards that are expected from the National Health Department.
“It really is a matter of identifying the gaps, having a good action plan and having the necessary resources to deliver. As long as there is passion and commitment from the stakeholders, we can make anything happen if we commit to it,” said Manning.
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