By Everson Luhanga
It is confirmed. President Ramaphosa will sign the controversial National Health Insurance Bill into law on Wednesday.
The Presidency released a statement that announces: “President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 15 May 2024, publicly sign into law the National Health Insurance Bill.
“The Bill directs the transformation of South Africa’s health care system to achieve universal coverage for health services and, through this, overcome critical socio-economic imbalances and inequities of the past,” according to the statement.
It added: “The signing ceremony will take place at the Union Buildings, Pretoria, at 2pm.”
Minister of Health Joe Phaahla will also be present and will take questions from the media on the matter.
The Bill aims to provide healthcare to millions of poorer South Africans in a major overhaul of a two-tier system, which still reflects deep racial and social inequalities and has remained in place three decades after the end of apartheid.
The Bill has been strongly opposed by business groups that claim it will lead to disinvestment in the healthcare sector and damage South Africa’s already fragile economy.
While on the campaign trail last Friday in Pretoria, Ramaphosa said: “It is the National Health Insurance Bill that is going to transform healthcare in our country. Where there are weaknesses, we are going to be able to address them through the NHI Bill.
“This is where we are going to deal with one of the last vestiges of apartheid and inequality, by bringing about equality in our country.”
Pictured above: President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Source: X
