CMS head Humphrey Zokufa dies

Source: biznisafrica.co.za

In a statement, minister of health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, said: ""His death is a great loss to the health sector in general and the medical scheme industry in particular."

"We struggled a great deal in getting the most suitable registrar for CMS and unfortunately now he is gone with the wealth of experience and skills he possesses."

The Health Funders Association (HFA) also expressed its condolences, saying Zokufa had held a number of pivotal positions within South Africa’s healthcare sector, both public and private. “Humphrey was an important figure in the private healthcare arena. The industry will be all the poorer for the loss of his wealth of experience and knowledge”, said Lerato Mosiah, CEO of HFA, a recently-formed association representing the private healthcare funding industry.

Zokufa was appointed as head of the CMS in September last year, replacing Dr Monwabisi Gantsho, who left amid allegations of corruption. Prior to taking up is current role, Zokufa was the CEO of The Board of Healthcare Funders. "He was a passionate proponent of a fair and equitable health system for all South Africans," the HFA statement said.

The DA was sharply critical of Zokufa's appointment, saying:"It is improper and bad judgment for the minister of health, Aaron Motsoaledi, to place somebody who was part of representing the industry in this position to now play the role of regulator.

"Of key concern is the fact that Dr Zokufa is openly sympathetic to the government’s National Health Insurance (NHI), for which no legislation has yet been passed and for which there is no money.

"We fear this could be another case of 'state capture', this time by Motsoaledi, to make sure that a person is in place to manipulate medical aid schemes and capture them for NHI purposes.

We are further concerned that putting a private medical scheme industry lobbyist in charge of the regulator has the purpose of harming medical scheme coverage to justify a NHI tax."

The CMS' chief financial officer Daniel Lehutjo‚ will be acting registrar in the interim.