President Cyril Ramaphosa to sign the National Health insurance Bill into law

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President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to publicly sign into law the National Health Insurance Bill at the Union Buildings, Pretoria on Wednesday afternoon.

This will direct the transformation of the South Africa’s health care system and achieve universal coverage for health services and, through this, overcome critical socio-economic imbalances and inequities of the past, the presidency stated.

PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA TO PUBLICLY SIGN NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE BILL INTO LAW

President @CyrilRamaphosa will on Wednesday, 15 May 2024, publicly sign into law the National Health Insurance Bill which directs the transformation of the South Africa’s health care system to achieve…

— The Presidency ???????? (@PresidencyZA) May 13, 2024

According to the department of health, the NHI is a fund from which the government will buy healthcare services for South Africans from healthcare providers both in the public and private sector.

The NHI will make healthcare more affordable, by reducing the cost of healthcare for all. It acts like a medical aid for everyone, and all of us will contribute to this fund through taxes and special contributions in line with what we can afford.

It will ensure that everyone is entitled to free healthcare when they need it. There will be no fees charged at the facility because the fund will cover the costs of care.

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Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance has revealed that upon signing into law they will challenge the ANC’s NHI all the way to the Constitutional Court.

Party leader John Steenhuisen said they have briefed their legal team and will file legal challenge against this devastating legislation without delay.

The DA will, upon its signing into law by president Cyril Ramaphosa, challenge the ANC’s NHI all the way to the Constitutional Court.
 
Our legal team was briefed months ago already and will file our legal challenge against this devasting legislation without delay. pic.twitter.com/mFEVujIBcg

— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) May 14, 2024

Denosa spokesperson Sibongiseni Delihlazo said they welcome that the president has finally found his pen to sign the NHI bill into law.

“We have been consistent in our support for a varied reasons in our perspective. At last, South Africa will be doing away with the legacy of having two unequal health care systems.

“At least the concept of equal access to universal health coverage will finally be realised in the country whereby everyone has equal healthcare on the basis of their needs and not on how deep one’s pocket is.”

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Delihlazo emphasised that nurses feel that they do not give enough services to the patients due to shortage of resources and equipment.

He continued; “The NHI as the financial system will enable health care professionals to work in an environment that has got enough and sufficient resources and equipment that in itself would mean adequate health service to the end-users.