He says the medical aid schemes are not playing an active role in the prevention of non-communicable diseases.

Motsoaledi was answering a question from the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Igor Scheurkogel in the National Council of Provinces during a Social Cluster Ministerial oral reply session.

“And I have raised this issue, take for instance, out of NCDs particularly about prevention, I have told medical aids why they are refusing to pay for contraception. That is also prevention. They refuse to pay for a contraceptive pill which costs R60. Then the young girl goes to fall pregnant, she commits a backstreet abortion and gets complications.”

“Moving to ICU, it costs R100 000 and the medical aid pays. I have raised that with them that I found it un-understandable and I’m wise. That does not mean vilifying them. And so, when you raise these issues subtly, it has got nothing to do with vilification, because the issue of primary health care is very important,” adds Motsoaledi.

--SABC--