Johannesburg - Private healthcare will be available to domestic workers nation-wide at a cost of R170 to the employer, according to a report on Tuesday.
Employers would be able to provide their domestic workers with occupational and private primary healthcare through DomestiCare, the Star reported.
DomestiCare is a new healthcare scheme that was launched by CareCross Health in February.
The healthcare that would be available to helpers include GP consultations, medicines, X-rays and blood tests but would exclude chronic medication and hospitalisation, according to the report.
"In addition to immediate benefits of providing primary medical care to low-wage earners, there are long-term benefits for the economy," CareCross Health managing director Dr Reinder Nauta said.
"Keeping the country's work force healthy could dramatically reduce absenteeism and employee turnover, increase employee loyalty, improve productivity and increase employer satisfaction."
The SA Domestic Services and Allied Workers Union said change would not happen until the health department devised a healthcare plan for domestic workers, according the newspaper.
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