Question NW142 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
15 March 2016 - NW142
Lotriet, Prof A to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)Is a letter of authorisation still required in order for a bona fide registered and verified military veteran to access medical healthcare; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether a military veteran, that may access healthcare from a general hospital, a day hospital and local clinic as an ordinary citizen, may only access a military hospital as a bona fide registered and verified military veteran; (3) whether a military veteran may resort to private medical practices to receive the necessary treatment where a military hospital and public medical healthcare facilities are not available and may only be reimbursed by her department if he/she is duly registered and verified on the National Military Veterans Database; (4) whether she has found that the incomplete database of military veterans has become a serious threat to the health of deserving military veterans who are not registered and verified?
Reply:
(1) According to Regulations in terms of the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011, a bonafide registered military veteran must apply for all benefits of which healthcare is one of them. Upon application, DMV will issue a once off authorization letter to the South African Military Healthcare Services (SAMHS) in order to capture the details of the approved military veteran. The military veteran will then have access to healthcare for life at SAMHS and SAMHS approved private facilities.
(2) A military veteran has accesss to health care as outlined in the Constitution of South Africa. Military Veterans are free to access healthcare at the public institution and military hospitals.
(3) The military veteran can access private medical practice only when authorised to do so either by DMV through SAMHS and /or authorised directly by the SAMHS.
(4) NO. Section 5 benefits are provided to registered and/or verified military veterans.