Johannesburg - Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Sunday
said private healthcare was a "brutal system" because it has commercialised an
essential service.
"How can we run such a brutal system... the government
will not fold its arms when there is such rampant commercialisation in the
healthcare sector," he said at a general practitioners' meeting in Durban.
He said the use of a public good for excessive profit was
unacceptable, which was why the state had introduced the National Health
Insurance (NHI).
Motsoaledi was consulting with general practitioners on the
NHI as part of an interprovincial road show, following the release of the
government's green paper in August.
He said private hospitals and specialists were receiving the
majority of South Africa's R84bn health expenditure.
Private hospitals received R31.1bn and specialists received
a total of R19bn.
"R14bn goes to pharmaceuticals, R6.2bn goes to general
practitioners and only the remainder (about R14bn) is for public healthcare and
non-medical expenses."
The public has until November to comment on the NHI
discussion document.
A total of R125bn was estimated to be spent next year on
preparations, which include establishing 10 test sites.