MEC mullls access to KZN healthcare

AT THE launch of the South African Medical Association (SAMA) KwaZulu-Natal provincial branch on Sunday, provincial Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, confronted the polarising issue of illegal foreign nationals’ access to healthcare facilities.

- THOBEKA NGEMA

Her statements brought to light significant concerns surrounding the pressure migrants placed on an already stretched healthcare system in the province.

Simelane said many knew about the ongoing issues concerning the access of illegal foreign nationals to healthcare facilities. She said the issues were sensitive and difficult and must be faced with firm and practical solutions.

“The truth of the matter is that no one amongst us would want to have illegal immigrants benefiting from our system. The truth of the matter is that the illegal immigrants that we have in the country are draining our resources,” Simelane said.

She explained that they budget for 12 million people in KZN; however, they do not know how many illegal foreigners are in the system.