Trade unions have blasted health privateers for an “attack on millions of South Africans,” placing their profits over access to healthcare.

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) hit out after a pressure group of health practitioners and academics wrote a stinging nine-page letter attacking South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi over the implementation of South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI).

The group warned the plans were “poorly researched” and accused the government of “losing control of the NHI narrative,” focusing on Mr Motsoaledi’s poor handling of the project.