UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE CAN WORK

Outgoing health ombudsman Malegapuru Makgoba is in favour of the NHI, despite the challenges it faces getting off the ground

- NASIFA SULAIMAN

OVERCROWDED hospitals, limited resources, poor governance – these are just some of the challenges crippling the South African healthcare system.

But with time, careful management, investment from all the relevant sectors and lessons learnt from abroad, it can all be fixed, says Professor Malegapuru Makgoba – and as SA’s outgoing health ombudsman, he should know.

In his seven years in the job, he investigated some of the biggest scandals in the SA health system, including the Life Esidimeni tragedy when 144 people died largely of starvation and neglect at psychiatric facilities in Gauteng.

Now, at the age of 70, he’s ready to call it a day and concentrate on his latest project: writing a book on his journey through life.

Makgoba, who recently said farewell to his final job, says he’d love to see more projects in SA focusing on eradicating malnutrition.

“These should be projects on the ground through which progress can be measured,” he says.

He’s also in favour of the controversial national health insurance (NHI) bill, which will pave the way for universal healthcare for all South Africans.

The national assembly approved it last month. The bill will now go to the national council of provinces for debate before it’s passed onto the president for consideration.

The NHI – which will ultimately be funded by taxpayers – has met with fierce criticism from various people in the public and private sectors who’ve questioned how the government will get such a massive undertaking off the ground when it can barely manage the current state health system.

Makgoba agrees there are challenges and there’s a long way to go, but says in principle it’s an excellent concept.