Ramaphosa to sign NHI Bill into law: 'It's performative political theatre'

Two weeks prior to the elections, President Cyril Ramaphosa plans to implement the nation's most extensive health policy reform, essentially limiting medical schemes to minor private elective procedures once enacted.

Ramaphosa announced his intention to sign the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill into law on Wednesday, 15 May.

This legislation represents a comprehensive overhaul of healthcare, mandating all South Africans to enroll in the NHI to consolidate private and public health spending, rendering private medical insurance obsolete.

Business and political entities have expressed discontent with Ramaphosa's decision.

Despite the South African Health Professionals Collaboration (SAHPC), representing 250 000 private and public sector healthcare workers, actively participating in the NHI parliamentary proceedings in December, they urge the President to return the Bill to Parliament, citing its unconstitutionality and lack of benefit to patients and citizens.

Dasoo suggests that there's no reason to be overly concerned at this point, as it will likely take 10 to 20 years for the Bill to be implemented, describing it as 'performative political theatre.'

Nonetheless, he emphasises that if 90% of the population depends on public health services, any 'sensible' government should prioritise ensuring the efficacy of the system for its citizens.