Beware of building heavyweight health structure on weak foundation.

Byline: TIM COHEN

Beware of building heavyweight health structure on weak foundation NO ONE ventures into the healthcare debate without trepidation, but you cannot but agree with Human Sciences Research Council director-general Olive Shisana that South Africa needs a better and more equal healthcare system. Shisana has been advocating a national health insurance scheme, which the African National Congress (ANC) has now endorsed. Although in principle the idea appeals, you can't help feeling the ANC is trying to build a heavyweight infrastructure on a very weak foundation. There are many examples, but the most obvious is the recent state doctors' strike. The short history of …