Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says he supports ActionSAs call for government to make it mandatory for public officials to use public hospitals .
ActionSA MP and health expert Dr Kgosi Letlape says implementing such a policy would improve the delivery of basic services and the conditions of public healthcare facilities.
Motsoaledi says the funds utilised for medical aid subsidies should be redirected to his departments budget for essential services and maintenance.
Everybody who gets their salary from the fiscus, that means money from the public service, they are entitled to subsidies on their medical aid to use private hospitals and that subsidy is R70-billion. Starting with the president to the lowest public servant, they are all subsidized for R70-billion. If theres a policy that they must all use public hospitals, that R70-billion will immediately accrue to the public hospitals and well be able to improve them.
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