Pretoria, South Africa ( sabcnews )
Government hopes the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill which President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law yesterday will address problems in the country’s health system and make access to treatment more equitable.
Ramaphosa signed the Bill at the Union Buildings in Pretoria shortly before what’s set to be South Africa toughest election since the dawn of democracy 30 years ago.
“For those who would like to see (their) privileges continuing, sorry, you are on the wrong boat. The boat we are on is about equality,” he said.
The National Health Insurance (NHI) Act takes aim at a two-tier health system, in which a publicly funded sector that serves 84 percent of the population is overburdened and run-down while some people have access to better treatment through private insurance.
The legislation will gradually limit the role of private insurance, create a new public fund to provide free access for South African citizens, and set the fees and prices that private doctors and healthcare suppliers may charge for NHI-funded benefits.(reuters)
