Schlettwein says biometric verification could reduce PSEMAS abuse

By: Envaalde Matheus

Former finance minister, Calle Schlettwein, says use of biometric verification could help reduce abuse of the Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS).

He says PSEMAS misuse puts pressure on the fund’s sustainability.

Schlettwein remarks follow prime minister Elijah Ngurare’s concerns alleging cartel activity within the scheme PSEMAS costs about N$3.9 billion annually, covering roughly 100 000 civil servants, while the government is seeking an additional N$535 million to meet the scheme’s funding needs for the current financial year.

Schlettwein explained that biometric verification will be able to confirm whether patients’ accessing benefits are eligible.

“That there is misuse is true. I’m not so sure whether it’s a cartel, because when I was there, it was a general misuse by medical practitioners, by members, by medical institutions like hospitals and so on, who oversubscribed, who served non-members,” he said.

Schlettwein said any reform should focus on ensuring that only eligible members and dependents benefit from PSEMAS.

“I think that’s a huge problem that the extended family principle has migrated into PSEMAS. So many non-members are benefiting but not contributing and have no right to it,” he said.

Schlettwein said the growing number of civil servants and medical inflation are contributing to rising costs.

He added abuse by medical practitioners, scheme members and healthcare institutions adds to the burden.

“Clean up the misuse. There are good ways to do that. We had very good proposals of biometrics linking that up to medical practices, that you are sure that the person you treat is a member or a dependent and not someone else,” he said.

He said biometric verification is a practical measure that can be implemented to ensure

PSEMAS benefits only eligible members and dependents.

“There are many medical aid schemes in the world that are pretty tight and are sure that they only serve their members. We are not sure,” he said.

A 2010 forensic report by Savvy Solutions revealed that a Rundu doctor issued 391 prescriptions of the drug Pegasys used for treating Hepatitis B and C, claimed N$ 1.29 million and received N$ 1.8 million.

Investigators found that the doctor had prescribed more of the drug than was needed for the entire African continent.

Schlettwein said the government must improve the quality of public healthcare facilities before considering cuts to PSEMAS benefits.

He said public health services must reach an acceptable standard before civil servants can be expected to rely on them instead of private healthcare.

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