Health Minister Joe Phaahla has pleaded with healthcare workers to ignore "doomsayers" spreading fear that the implementation of the freshly signed National Health Insurance Act will collapse the health sector.
"To our professionals and healthcare workers, don't listen to the doomsayers. There are scaremongers out there who are telling them that things are going to collapse and that they must leave on the next flight now that the president has found a pen. Stay here. Things are going to get better," Phaahla said to a round of applause.
The health minister made the remarks at the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill signing ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday.