BHF views the recent news articles by journalist Letitia Watson regarding its involvement in the NHI Task team as misleading and damaging to the organisation for the following reasons:
•BHF is acting in the best interests of its members. A major strategic focus for most industry bodies is the ability to engage constructively with government and influence policy for the benefit of members. BHF is no different, and believes that it is in the best interests of medical schemes to work with government in a co-operative, non adversarial manner in order to secure the interests of schemes and their members, rather than in a hostile way which could lead to expensive and destructive court battles;
•The few medical schemes that terminated their membership of BHF did so before Dr Pearmain was asked by the HSRC to do some work on draft legislation concerning NHI and not because of this;
•There was only one large medical scheme that terminated its membership of BHF and the organisation still retains the majority of its approximately 120 member schemes;
•Dr Pearmain has not been contracted by the ANC to do work on a plan for NHI;
•As far as BHF is aware, no indication has been given by the government, the ANC or any other political party that the future of medical schemes is threatened by NHI;
•As far as BHF is aware no details have been released either by the Department of Health or by any political party of a plan for NHI which excludes medical schemes. This is why the BHF document on NHI deals only with the principles of NHI;
•Dr Zweli Mkhize, speaking at the BHF conference last year, said that a uniquely South African approach to the concept of NHI was needed and that schemes should work together with other stakeholders and government itself to achieve this end.

The participation by BHF Executives in external work on NHI is regarded by the Board of Directors of BHF as ensuring that there is grass roots level involvement in NHI debates by people engaged in watching out for the interests of medical schemes

BHF has a proud record of at all times promoting, preserving and protecting the best interest of medical scheme members and at no time has there been a departure from this approach.

It is most unfortunate that the disgruntlement of a few medical schemes has been sensationalized by this one journalist in an attempt to negate the work that BHF is doing on behalf of its members. BHF exists in order to promote the interests of medical schemes and beneficiaries of medical schemes wherever possible.

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For further information, please contact Heidi Kruger, Head of Corporate Communications on 011 5370237 or 0829051161
About BHF
The Board of Healthcare Funders of Southern Africa is the representative body of the majority of medical schemes throughout South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.