Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

2-minute read
15 June 2023 | 16:05 CAT

Image: Jacaranda FM

The National Health Insurance Bill aims to ensure all South Africans have access to quality healthcare services and provides for establishing a fund that will be used to pay for almost all medical treatment from accredited providers, with rates to be determined by the state.

Several hurdles will be overcome before the NHI Bill is fully implemented in South Africa. A day after the National Assembly gave the Bill the nod, at least one trade union Solidarity, announced that it is getting ready for a major court case against the government’s plans for national health insurance. It says it has instructed its legal teams to prepare for a court case.

“Most arguments regarding the NHI is completely academic. The numbers aren’t there. This Bill was passed without a proper costing model. So, the ANC has rushed it through the parliament without stopping and considering what exactly will it cost and cover. It is simply impossible and completely unaffordable for the country. That is one of the reasons that we are heading to court, is to once again force the government to stay within its means and so the right thing with spending public money,” says Corne Mulder, Head of Research at Solidarity.

Professor Saloshni Naidoo, Head of the Discipline of Public Health Medicine at the UKZN, told Radio Islam International a general concern for South Africans and several experts outside the government that the Bill is good on paper. However, under the same politicians watch that public healthcare had collapsed are the ones that have been entrusted.

“In terms of the funds and sources of income that are going to be put together, is going to need good governance and transparency. We know that many of the issues South Africa has in the public health sector and other state entities, is the government and transparency,” said Naidoo.

Listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.