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News

NHI Bill | Celebration and fury

todayMay 15, 2024 114

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There’s been a mixed bag of reactions to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that he will sign the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill into law today.

The signing ceremony is scheduled take place at the Union Buildings at 2pm.

It comes months after the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) passed gave the draft law the thumbs up.

The proposed legislation aims to provide quality access to universal healthcare to all South Africans. The Presidency says through this, the country will overcome critical socio-economic imbalances and inequalities of the past.

Speaking to YNews, Sibongiseni Deluhlazo from the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) says the union welcomes the signing of the bill, they are concerned about the shortage of nurse, which he says, must still be addressed.

Delihlazo says the NHI Bill will enable healthcare workers to work in an environment that has adequate equipment and resources, which will in turn ensure that all South Africans, no matter their financial background or standing, get the best service for their healthcare needs.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) says the signing of the draft law will be a major win for workers.

Despite objections from opposition parties and some civil society groups that believe that there is no fiscal capacity for the bill to be implemented, Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says the NHI system will address the skewed distribution of healthcare services in the country.

 

The South African Health Professionals Collaboration (SAHPC) is among the organisations that believe this is a bad move for the country.

The organisation believes the proposed legislation is not in the best interest of the people of South Africa.

The SAHPC represents more than 25 000 private and public sector healthcare workers, in medical, dental and allied healthcare practitioners’ associations.

Speaking to YNews, SAHPC spokesperson, Dr. Simon Strachan, says they are preparing to challenge the bill in court.

 

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) says it cannot support the NHI Bill in its current form as a viable solution to address the complex health challenges facing South Africa.

“While the intention behind the bill is to transform South Africa’s healthcare system and ensure universal coverage for health services is commendable, the implementation strategy lacks the necessary depth and practicality required, to achieve meaningful and sustainable change.”

SAMA says South Africa’s healthcare system is also not ready for the NHI system.

“The funding mechanism is flawed in its heavy reliance on general tax revenue, payroll tax, and surcharges on personal income, and in particular, the potential financial hardships for poor and middle-class citizens due to the country’s economic challenges.”

The business sector and some political parties have also weighed in on the controversy.

Business Unity SA (BUSA), trade union, Solidarity, and opposition parties such as the Democratic Alliance, are among the organisations who have threatened to take government to court over the legislation.

It is estimated that the controversial health system will cost between R200 billion and R700 billion a year and it will come from taxes.

BUSA deputy CEO, Khulekani Mathe, says the legislation is detrimental to both the healthcare industry and the overall economy, as well as the confidence of investors.

Mathe says it will cause detrimental effects on the health system that the country currently has in place.

 

Solidarity has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa, informing him of its intention to litigate.

In a letter of demand, the union says it will fight the bill at every level possible.

Speaking to YNews, the chief executive of Solidarity, Dr Dirk Hermann, said the implementation of this bill will bring the country’s healthcare to its knees.

The DA says it will approach the Constitutinal Court over the matter.

Amid concerns that the bill will open the country’s struggling healthcare system to more corruption, the DA’s John Steenhuisen says the implementation of the legislation will also eat into the pockets of employed South Africans who are already struggling to put bread on the table.

 

Ordinary South African have on the other hand taken to X to voice their opinion on the NHI Bill.

While some are concerned, others are celebrating:

 

 

 

Written by: Nonhlanhla Harris

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