Primary health care for domestic workers

Private healthcare will be available to domestic workers nationwide at a cost of R170 to the employer.

Employers would be able to provide their domestic workers with occupational and private primary healthcare through DomestiCare, the Star reported today.

DomestiCare is a new health-care scheme that was launched by CareCross Health in February.

The health-care that would be available to helpers include GP consultations, medicines, X-rays and blood tests but would exclude chronic medication and hospitalisation, according to the report.

“In addition to immediate benefits of providing primary medical care to low-wage earners, there are long-term benefits for the economy,” CareCross Health managing director Dr Reinder Nauta said.

“Keeping the country’s work force healthy could dramatically reduce absenteeism and employee turnover; increase employee loyalty, improve productivity and increase employer satisfaction.”

The SA Domestic Services and Allied Workers Union said change would not happen until the health department devised a healthcare plan for domestic workers, according the newspaper.

- Sapa