The South African government has over the years been implementing policies that aim to positively focus on equity through the use of legislation, policy, research, and resource allocation to attempt to achieve transformation, and to improve healthcare for the overall population. The focus on primary healthcare and the specified approach towards it is one such example where this improvement is seen.
Recently, the National Assembly of South Africa adopted the National Health Insurance (NHI) Amendment Bill, further representing an illustration of the government’s continued work towards transformation and improvement of the quality of health for the whole population as enshrined in the South African Constitution. The Department of Health has initiated the NHI as a financial system designed to pool funds to provide access to quality affordable personal health services for all South Africans based on their health needs, irrespective of their socio-economic status.
As the country builds more inclusive healthcare, the health industry needs to collaborate to address existing well-known health system challenges and those that may be brought on, as an unintended consequence, by the National Health Insurance. From making use of new technologies to using innovative medicines, addressing affordability through various reimbursement mechanisms, to upskilling – many different role players need to be included, and we all need to work together if we are to truly build inclusive healthcare in South Africa through the National Health Insurance building on existing ecosystems and creating new ones where needed.
The World Health Organisation defines universal health coverage as access to the full range of quality health services for all people where and when they need them, without financial hardship. Many countries have implemented various versions of what could be deemed as universal health coverage. The concept of National Health Insurance in South Africa is another form aimed at achieving universal health coverage. Universal health coverage recognizes that medical innovation is a critical element for achieving universal health coverage. As such, the NHI Bill should allow for different mechanisms to be used to be able to widen the pool of treatment options, including innovative medicines, for all patients.
For this to happen, the procurement regime that the government adopts under the NHI Amendment Bill must also allow for the sustainability of the entire health system. In addition, as South Africa works towards equal access to quality healthcare for all, the private sector must align with the government’s efforts towards building an infrastructure that can support the NHI’s goals as part of the South African National Infrastructure Plan 2050. It will also be upon us, as the health industry, to continue to provide avenues for patients and Healthcare Professionals to be educated on various disease areas and to be given the choice of which treatments to use.
AbbVie supports a path toward universal health coverage to improve access to safe and effective medicines. In general, we support the rollout of NHI as we work towards inclusive, quality healthcare for all. We believe that innovative treatments are most impactful when patients and their providers have a choice, access, and the right guidance and support. As an industry, we should all be working towards removing bottlenecks within the ecosystem so eligible patients can get the right treatment – whether it be payers, distributors, hospital systems, provider groups, pharmacy networks, medical aid, medical insurance and more.
Our role, as an innovative pharma, is to continue to invest in research and development that produces effective treatment for patients, to invest in better patient outcomes, to educate and develop awareness, and to drive access for all eligible patients.
In conclusion, the South African National Health Insurance has the potential to positively impact the quality of the lives of all South African patients. Working together in both the private and public sectors, we can achieve this goal.
Ahmed Rami is the General Manager of AbbVie South Africa and Region Africa. AbbVie is one of the largest global biomedical companies. Its mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that address complex health issues and enhance people’s lives.
