President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Health Insurance Bill into law today (15 May 2024). Speaking at the event, President Ramaphosa said: “The passage of the Bill sets the foundation for ending parallel inequitable health system where those without means are relegated to poor healthcare.
“Under the NHI, access to quality care will be determined by need not by ability to pay. This will produce better health outcomes and prevent avoidable deaths. Through the NHI, we plan to improve the effectiveness of healthcare provision by requiring all healthcare facilities to achieve minimum quality health standards and be accredited.”
Despite the promise made by the President, many question how the NHI will be funded, how it will be implemented and whether it will result in better healthcare for all or be disastrous.
Time will tell. The NHI will be rolled out in phases and those with medical aid membership are encouraged to keep their membership as we await further news on what the roll out of the NHI will look like.
Watch the President’s full speech and the signing of the Bill here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/TEpeXSTdWJA?si=oqaK8M6PYEbZM9kx
