'Address health skills shortage'

Johannesburg - Higher government spending on healthcare could increase the number of patients for both the private and public health sector, says Kurt Worrall-Clare, CEO of the Hospital Association of South Africa (Hasa).

"One of two things can happen: either things stay the same or there'll be an increased subsidy in terms of the tax benefit that people get from their medical insurance," says Worrall-Clare, speaking to Fin24.com ahead of the national budget speech, to be delivered by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel on Wednesday Febraury 11.

Hasa represents the interests of over 90% of private hospitals in South Africa, but Worrall-Clare is looking after public interests as well when he says: "The most important thing to look out for is how government intends treating increased expenditure on the training of health care personnel."

He insists on a short-term solution by government to address the severe skills shortage in both the public and private sector.

"We'll also be looking to see how salaries will be treated, in terms of reimbursement for public sector nurses," Worrall-Clare says.

In past budgets, finance minister Trevor Manuel addressed HIV/Aids directly and this year will be no different, Worrall-Clare says. However, he hopes the speech will also address other diseases.

"While HIV/Aids is important, I think there's also a need to look at the broad strategy policy in terms of disease and how it impacts the population as a whole."

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- Fin24.com