This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers.
The National Health Insurance (NHI) pilot project for the Western Cape is well on track, with more than 12 000 school children in the Eden District having already been screened by health workers in the past year.
Although only officially launched in February, the Western Cape government has been working on the project for the past year to put measures in place to roll out the scheme to school children and health facilities in the region.
However, while Health MEC Theuns Botha is proud of the provincial government's achievements in terms of the pilot scheme, he remains adamant that its efforts do not indicate unqualified support for the "as yet not formally tabled policy document for NHI".
"There are ten pilots in the country that are "piloting" various options and we are implementing the pilot in the Eden district. There is no final model. The reason for the Western Cape participation is the belief that the province can contribute to the development of the best ultimate model," he said.
There were a significant number of achievements however, he said.
"The strengthening of public health services in the Eden district in preparation for national government's proposed phased implementation of NHI is on track," he said.
The clinical services that the district provides are covered through community-based services, school health, NGO-run home based care and intermediate care, primary health care through community health centres, six district hospitals and George Hospital.
"All the above health services role players meet every three months to plan and implement integrated care," Mr Botha said.
"In the past year, 152 schools were visited with 12 147 pupils being screened. Of that 5 744 Grade 1 learners were referred [for treatment], 244 Grade R and Grade 1 pupils were dewormed, 1 452 vaccinated, 3 899 pupils were treated on site and 4 160 had dental treatment.
"The Western Cape government policy is one of 'universal healthcare for all' which is supported by the World Health Organization, but through a model of a functioning health system at provincial level - without the centralizing of all funding and management through the national health department."
