Mixed reaction as president is set to sign NHI Bill into law

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to sign the National Health Insurance Bill (NHI) into law tomorrow. The news has drawn some mixed reaction, with the country’s official opposition party and a business organisation representing South African businesses, reacting negatively to the announcement.

SA News reports that according to the Presidency, the move will transform South Africa’s healthcare system and ensure universal coverage for health services.

Through this, the country will overcome critical socio-economic imbalances and inequities of the past.

The NHI Bill, passed by the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces last year, will provide free healthcare at the point of care for all South Africans, whether in public or private health facilities.

The bill currently only requires President Ramaphosa’s signature for enactment.

Speaking during the State of the Nation Address (Sona) in February, Ramaphosa said the state was working tirelessly to improve healthcare quality and access equality, despite the country’s health system significantly impacting people’s lives.

During the debate on President Ramaphosa’s Sona, Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla announced the NHI will be implemented in two remaining phases from 2024 to 2026, while between 2026 and 2028 government will focus on establishing the board and CEO, as well as several key committees of the NHI Fund.

“We are confident that the innovative funding of infrastructure as stated by the president will also contribute to health facilities,” he told parliament at the time.

In the meantime, the minister said his department is strengthening key delivery areas. These include the healthcare benefits design, digital health systems, and risk identification and fraud prevention.

The signing ceremony will take place at the Union Buildings in Pretoria at 14:00.

Phaahla will conduct a question-and-answer session with the media immediately after the ceremony.

Reaction

Vaalweekblad reports that DA leader John Steenhuisen said in response that the announcement has caused panic among citizens.

“This announcement has sown widespread panic among the people of South Africa… The scale of panic in response to this announcement is unprecedented,” said Steenhuisen.

Steenhuisen believes Ramaphosa took this step out of political desperation in the run-up to the national election at the end of the month.

“[It is] a cheap election gimmick, where the ANC uses the lives of the people as political props,” believes Steenhuisen.

The Witness meanwhile reports that Business Unity SA (Busa) said it will consider legal action after Ramaphosa signs the contentious NHI Bill into law.

Busa, which represents business interests, has repeatedly lamented the state of the bill in its current form, previously saying that it had petitioned Ramaphosa not to sign the bill and to refer it back to parliament.

In a statement released, Busa CEO Cas Coovadia reiterated that the bill is ‘unimplementable and damaging to the country’s healthcare sector, to the economy more broadly and to investor confidence’.