Almost a quarter-of-a-million people have thrown their weight behind plans to introduce a single state-run medical insurance scheme. The advent of a national health insurance fund, as outlined in a white paper published last month, would, it is predicted, lead to the demise of most private medical aid schemes.The National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union called on its members yesterday to support Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi's national health insurance plan."We don't believe in medical aids, just like we don't believe in private hospitals," said the union's first deputy president, Mike Shingange.The union said it was gearing up for a fight with the middle class which, it predicted, would oppose the implementation of national health insurance with court challenges."For them health is not a human right. for them it is business for profit," said Bereng Soke, Nehawu's Free State general secretary.He said the rich should subsidise the poor by paying into a single medical aid.When it was pointed out that the rich were already subsidising the poor by paying high rates of income tax, that paid for free healthcare at state hospitals, Nehawu president Mzwandile Makwayiba said: "Everyone pays tax."Despite his union's calls for the abolition of private hospitals, Makwayiba said he wanted the state to pay for poor people to be treated in them."The release of the white paper indicates that the government thinks it will be possible to provide [free healthcare] for all."The Free Market Foundation has warned that national health insurance would destroy private healthcare, burden the taxpayer and send doctors packing...