President Ramaphosa to Sign NHI Bill into Law this Wednesday

In a statement yesterday evening, the Presidency has announced that President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to sign the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill into law on Wednesday.

Picture by: Pexels

The primary objective of the bill is to institute universal healthcare for all citizens of South Africa. It seeks to dismantle the existing "two-tier" healthcare system, where a major portion of healthcare resources is allocated to the private sector, serving only a minority, while the majority of the population relies on underfunded public healthcare services.

In December, the National Council of Provinces approved the NHI Bill, making it possible for the president's signature to enact it into law. Both the Democratic Alliance (DA), Action SA and Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) have expressed opposition to the bill. They urged President Ramaphosa not to sign the bill and instead refer it back to Parliament.

Despite significant opposition and critical feedback from various sectors—including the medical profession, private healthcare industry, medical aid schemes, and other stakeholders—no revisions have been made to the bill since its introduction in 2019.

Reports suggest that should the NHI system be enacted into law, opposition parties are prepared to contest it in court.

Done by: Veerle Kroon