NCOP
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 485
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 21 October 2011
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 32)
Mr J M G Bekker (DA-WC) to ask the Minister of Health:
(1) With reference to his departmentâs booklet titled, National Health
Insurance â Health Care for all South Africans (details furnished),
(a) what is the specified level a person must earn before contributing
to the National Health Insurance Fund and (b) how was this level
determined;
(2) with reference to a certain statement from the said booklet (details
furnished), (a) what is considered as being a low income and (b) how
was this level determined;
(3) with reference to a certain statement from the said booklet (details
furnished), (a) on what basis does his department make this statement,
(b) what services can persons expect to receive as opposed to the
Prescribed Minimum Benefits that medical aid members currently receive
and (c) how will quality health care compare to what medical aid
members currently receive?
CW587E
REPLY:
1) (a)-(b) Answers will be provided by National Treasury. They
have not yet done so.
2) (a) In the Departmentâs booklet, what is considered to be a
low income is any income earnings that fall below the tax
contribution threshold as determined by the South African
Revenue Service (SARS) and the National Treasury.
(b) This was determined by reference to the annual tax tables that
are publicly available and can be downloaded from the official
website of SARS.
3) (a)-(b) The wide range of services referred to in the
Departmentâs booklet implies the comprehensive package of health
services that will be covered by the National Health Insurance
(NHI) as part of the benefit entitlements for all South African
citizens and legal residents.
(c) The Department has already initiated a comprehensive programme
of work intended to significantly improve the quality of care
that is offered in all public health facilities, irrespective of
the level of care and whether or not they are covered by a
medical scheme. This work includes the establishment of the
Office of Health Standards Compliance.
END.