The Albertina Sisulu Executive Leadership Programme in Health (Aselph), in collaboration with the Department of Health, held a Health Policy Seminar at the University of Pretoria. The theme was ‘Health System Strengthening in Preparation for National Health Insurance (NHI)’. This seminar forms part of the capacity building for Aselph students in conducting seminars. The special guest speaker at the seminar was Prof Bill Hsiao, who is the K.T. Li Professor of Economics at Harvard University and also leads a new program in health systems studies at this institution.  Prof Hsiao’s current research focuses on developing an analytical model for diagnosing the causes for the successes or failures of national health systems. 

NHI is a health services financing mechanism that is aimed at ensuring that all South Africans, regardless of their socio-economic status, will have access to quality health care services based on their health needs. This new type of health financing system will create a link between the privileged and the less privileged as skills and resources will be shared between private and public hospitals.

According to Prof Hsiao the following are critical questions for the successful implementation of the proposed NHI-system in our country:

• How to produce and provide EFFECTIVE coverage for every citizen equally?
• What’s affordable?
• What’s sustainable?

He further stated that hospitals and health centres will have to offer and produce patient-centered services, have to compete and attract patients to its facility and importantly. He continued that healthcare leaders must have the skills and knowledge to manage the operations, have leadership ability and know how to lead and motivate staff. He concluded by stating that the biggest challenge will be to bring together the public and the private sector, as they have huge disparities in availability and quality of services as well as the cost of services.

NHI will use available public and private resources to ensure its sustainability. The strengthened public health sector will remain the backbone of the country’s health service delivery structure and the entire population will have access to a comprehensive health care services package based on a health care approach that focuses on health promotion and the prevention of disease.

Other participants in the seminar included:

Prof Laetitia Rispel, Wits University

Mrs Johanna Moore, Gauteng DOH

Dr Humphrey Zokufa, BHF

Prof Eddie Mhlangu, Mpumalanga DOH

Prof Stewart Whittaker, COSASHA

Prof Pinky Seekoe, UFH

Mr Ramphelane Morewane, NDOH

Mr Kgosi Matlhbane, NWest DOH

Prof S Hendricks, UP

Dr Dumisani Bomela, HASA