Health minister beats a hasty retreat
Self-inflicted harm health policy hastily haltedPolicy blamed on President Khama’s hatred for alcohol
Following public pressure and disdain from various sectors of the society, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has been forced into a retreat – they have finally withdrawn a Savingram from the Ministry’s permanent secretary, Shenaz El-Halabi, dated March 29, 2017, titled ‘Removal from medical cover for self-inflicted harm,’ addressed to the District Health Management Team (DHMT) heads.
The savingram had sought to implement a controversial health policy believed to be the brainchild of alcohol-abhorring president Ian Khama, which intended to remove medical cover for what was termed self-inflicted injuries. Government would not pay costs for any death, injury or health matter emanating from drunk-driving, riding motorbikes without helmet, failure to use seat belts for self or children as passengers, participation in riots and mass gatherings involving violence leading to injury; lung cancer associated with tobacco and tobacco products as well as attempted suicide related to alcohol or drug abuse.
The policy attracted wide criticism, and is said to have caused health authorities in the ministry some headaches, leading to Government making a u-turn so as to make amendements. A lot of criticism has been directed at President Khama with claims that he pushed for the policy because he is known to be one person who does not condone alcohol consumption.
This week Minister of Health and Wellness Dorcas Makgato could not be drawn into discussing the issue. Instead she told The Midweek Sun in a brief interview that she was planning a press conference this week to clarify some issues regarding the controversial health policy. “I would be calling a press conference to address the matter. So at the moment I am constrained to entertain questions on this matter but it is not that I do not want to respond to your inquiries. I just need you to give me that chance so that I could address all of you at the same time than having to field questions from various media houses time and again,”she said.
El-Halabi in the savingram states that it has become increasingly clear that the cost of sustaining medical services has continued to escalate and while a new health financing strategy, which will articulate various health funding modalities is being developed, it has been decided that some services given in some segment of patients will now have to be paid for.
El-Halabi explains that the fundamental principle behind the removal of medical cover on self-harm is that those responsible for causing injury to themselves should meet the medical cost of their treatment. Opposition parties have condemned the move by government to introduce the policy. UDC President Duma Boko told a rally in Tlokweng last week that this was a clear indication that the current government care less about its citizens. He stated that the aim of the policy is meant to please one person, being the president of country, and disregarding the masses.
He explained that come 2019 when UDC takes power those who have looted and abused people’s human rights would pay heavily.