RAMAPHOSA TO SIGN NHI BILL INTO LAW

It’s expected that President Cyril Ramaphosa will sign the National Health Insurance Bill into law this week.

This is according to a statement released by the Presidency on Monday evening.

News24 reports that the bill aims to establish universal healthcare for all South Africans by abolishing the two-tier system, in which the bulk of healthcare spending is made in the private sector for the benefit of the few, while the mass of the population is relegated to the underfunded public sector.

The controversial bill was put in the spotlight yet again when in December, the National Council of Provinces voted in favour of it. The next step in the South African legal system is for the president of the country to sign it into law. This is expected to happen on Wednesday.

Despite private healthcare professionals, medical aid schemes, and the medical profession industry, as well as other stakeholders commenting on the bill, no changes were made in the five years since the bill was first introduced.

Several political parties believe the signing of the bill has been fast-forwarded because of the national election taking place at the end of the month.

Image credit: Medical Aid