The government’s proposed National Health Insurance scheme has received an endorsement from Archbishop Emeritus and Nobel peace prize laureate Desmond Tutu.
“I wish to associate myself with our Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi’s advocacy for a national health system that cares for all South Africans‚ regardless of their wealth.
“Access to health care is a basic human right; denying people access to health care is to deny their humanity‚” Tutu said in a statement on Thursday.
He said the fact that less than 20% of South Africans could afford the best medical treatment in the world while more than 80% had access to no more than very basic health care was immoral.
“It is the kind of inequity many South Africans hoped would be a thing of the past‚ in the 22nd year of our democracy‚” Tutu added.
“When I was hospitalised last year I was very conscious of the fact that had it not been for my medical aid and the personal generosity of my doctors I would probably have died.
“I am not proud to live in a country that makes life or death decisions on behalf of its citizens on the basis of their bank balance or good fortune. Dr Motsoaledi’s vision of a national health insurance scheme‚ affordable treatment and fair access for all deserves the support of all who care about our country’s future‚” Tutu said.