Ramaphosa says NHI will bring about equality in the country

JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa has refuted claims suggesting that the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill is a reflection of government’s failure to improve the public healthcare system.

The NHI bill, which aims to provide equal access to healthcare for all South Africans, has faced objections from opposition parties that believe there is no fiscal capacity for it to be implemented.  

Speaking during the ANC's campaign in Pretoria on Friday, Ramaphosa said that while he is yet to sign it into law, he believes in the bill.

"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 of inequality, by bringing about equality in our country."