The Department of Health and National Treasury are discussing potentially leveraging South Africa’s R2.3-trillion savings pool to upgrade public health infrastructure. This is part of the department’s preparation for implementing National Health Insurance (NHI). The Department of Health is working to address infrastructure challenges that could impact its rollout. The focus is on finding sustainable funding sources, with the Public…
Tag: National Health Insurance
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Moving toward NHI and primary care focus
Since emerging from apartheid three decades ago, South Africa has worked to ensure access to healthcare, food, and social assistance, as promised in the 1996 Constitution’s Bill of Rights. Yet, despite investments, the public healthcare system remains hampered by resource inequity, unmet needs, and insufficient primary care access. The proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) seeks to reshape healthcare delivery, prioritising…
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GNU faces major showdown over National Health Insurance
The GNU (Government of National Unity) has been hit by its first significant cabinet clash, with ANC and DA ministers at odds over proposed spending plans. The most contentious issue at the centre of the debate is the National Health Insurance (NHI), a plan to reshape South Africa’s healthcare system. Insiders reported that tempers flared during an extended cabinet meeting…
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Addressing gaps in South Africa’s primary healthcare system
One issue remains clear amid the debate over South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI): Primary healthcare is vital for creating a sustainable and equitable health system. However, achieving this will require significant investment in workforce training, healthcare delivery, and system reform. Primary healthcare (PHC) differs from the traditional medical model in that it focuses on community involvement and addresses the…
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High Court ruling on certificate of need not linked to NHI
Last week, the Pretoria High Court overturned the certificate of need requirement that controls where doctors work and healthcare facilities are set up. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi clarified that this judgment is unrelated to the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. The certificate of need was part of the National Health Act, introduced 20 years before the NHI Act. The court…
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Doctors celebrate ruling on ‘unconstitutional legislation’
Doctors are celebrating the Pretoria High Court’s decision on Wednesday, declaring the legislation allowing the government to dictate where health professionals can practice unconstitutional. This victory comes from the efforts of Solidarity, the Alliance of South African Independent Practitioners Associations, the South African Private Practitioner Forum, and the Hospital Association of SA. The ruling is a significant setback for the…
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Challenging road ahead for South Africa’s healthcare system
In May, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill into law, aiming to implement Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in South Africa. However, this move has sparked debates and potential court challenges questioning the Act’s constitutionality, including opposition from political parties within the Government of National Unity (GNU). The government will implement NHI over several years, but clear…