NHI ‘is not just a pipe dream,’ says Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa was in the National Assembly on Thursday to reply to oral questions from Members of Parliament. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday said that the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) will continue as planned, despite pending legal challenges that have delayed the proclamation of the Act. Speaking during a question and answer session in the National Assembly on Thursday, Ramaphosa also responded to questions from EFF leader Julius Malema regarding the government’s commitment to the NHI and the steps taken to ensure the nation’s health system is prepared for its rollout.

Ramaphosa explained thatthe legal challenges, which are set to be heard in May, will not disrupt the timeline for implementing the NHI or halt ongoing preparatory work by the Department of Health. “This undertaking, which has been made an order of court, will not affect the timetable for the implementation of the NHI, nor will it stop the work currently underway. Work has been going on up to and including improving our infrastructure,” he said.

He stated that the NHI is South Africa’s method for implementing universal health coverage as decided by the World Health Organisation and unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. “It is important to put this across so that those who are opposed to the NHI should know that what we are seeking to do is not just a pipe dream.” Ramaphosa said since the assent of the NHI Act,the Department of Healthhas been busy with a range of preparatory work initiatives, including rolling out the digital systems required to trace a patient between different doctors or health centres in both the public and the private sectors. Ramaphosa added that practical interventions to improve healthcare quality and accessibility included significant infrastructure investments, such as rebuilding old hospitals and constructing new ones, along with health centres and clinics.

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“This is taking place alongside measures we are taking to improve hospital governance as well. The national and provincial Departments of Health are also focusing on the employment of doctors, other health professionals and community health workers.” He said the changes brought about by the NHI were complex and far-reaching, and needed to be implemented on a phased basis.

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