Netcare CEO Richard Friedland, a medical doctor himself, is urging the ANC to dust off its original Healthcare policy which was a workable alternative to a polarising and unaffordable NHI - which will cost the country an extra R500bn a year (21% VAT anyone?). In an address yesterday to the Hospitals Association of SA, Friedland reminded the nation of the ‘mandatory cover’ approach, which has been used successfully elsewhere, including widely in  Africa. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.