Zuko Komisa

The National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill has been met with opposition from various opposition parties and medical associations, some of which have stated that they want to fight it in court. Shortly after President Cyril Ramaphosa officially signed the NHI Bill into law on Wednesday at the Union Buildings, several complaints were raised.
Point of View with Phemelo Motene spoke to Economist Aybonga Cawe, DA’s Chief Whip, Siviwe Gwarube, and Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa, spokesperson for the South African Health Professionals Collaboration.
Listen to the full conversation here:
Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa said the South African Health Professionals Collaboration will be headed to court to challenge the bill and will be prioritising access to healthcare.
“Our views are known by the South African public, and we obviously have concerns and our legal team will be assisting with clarity in the court of law.
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DA’s Chief Whip, Siviwe Gwarube, outline tha the bill in its current form is badly drafted, and that it is only is going to give rise to a worsening health system.
“Moving towards Universal Health Care where everyone has healtcare is important, it is a global notion that was mentioned during the signing, we have got to differeantiate what the National Health Bill which will become an act, vs what Universal Health is. The bill has been drafted by parliament as a vehicle to obtain Universal Health Care, but it is not in itself the attainment of Universal Health Care.”
The amount that citizens must contribute or the amount needed to fund NHI has not been specified by the government. The parliamentary website’s explainer, however, claims that the “cost of our health-care system, which is currently the most expensive in the world, will be reduced”.
There are three primary financing sources listed on the parliamentary website:
- general taxes
- contributions by people earning above a set amount (which has not been specified) and
- monthly contributions made by employees to the fund.
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