Mixed reactions to NHI persist as Ramaphosa set to sign bill into law

JOHANNESBURG - There are mixed views on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill from different sectors.

This comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to sign the legislation into law on Wednesday.
  
The NHI is a strategy for the country to achieve universal healthcare for all South Africans, however, it has been met with some criticism.

READ: Ramaphosa says NHI will bring about equality in the country
 
Despite widespread rejection of the NHI Bill, the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) said it remains consistent in its support for the bill.
 
DENOSA spokesperson Sibongiseni Delihlazo said: "Everyone has equal access to quality healthcare on the basis of their health needs not on the basis of how deep one's pocket is."

However, the South African Health Professionals Collaboration (SAHPC), representing over 25,000 medical workers, has expressed its disappointment over the signing of the bill.
 
"We thought reason would prevail so we can sit around the table and improve the bill," said SAHPC spokesperson Khome Makhubele.

Moreover, the Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA) said the version of the NHI Bill due to be signed by Ramaphosa would hamper instead of promote access to quality healthcare.

HASA's Mark Peach expressed disappointment: "Our contributions have been motivated by a desire to seek improvements to the NHI Bill for the practical attainment of the policy objective of universal access to healthcare."

READ: BLSA believes signing NHI Bill into law will leave healthcare sector worse off

Sharing the same sentiments, the South African Federation of Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said Ramaphosa should have not rushed to sign the bill.
 
"There may be a danger that we move from the frying pan straight into the fire with the NHI." 
 
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance has vowed to take court action against the bill as soon as it is signed.