Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has confirmed that the Department of Health will proceed with its planned R65.9 million NHI advertising campaign. This decision comes despite facing a severe funding shortfall for critical HIV/AIDS programmes. The Minister cited the need to combat “irrational and negative propaganda” surrounding the NHI as the primary reason for continuing the campaign. HIV Funding Gap Sparks…
Tag: NHI
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NHI Act Legal Challenge: SAMA’s Fight for Justice
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has initiated a legal battle. It is fighting the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. SAMA wants the court to declare the Act unconstitutional. The group highlights a major funding shortfall. This NHI Act legal challenge questions the plan’s massive tax burden. Huge Funding Required Research shows the NHI scheme requires huge funding. It…
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NHI’s absence from budget raises questions about its future
While Budget 2025 covered numerous sectors, the notable absence of National Health Insurance (NHI) from Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s speech has sparked significant discussion. Despite its omission from the speech, references to NHI are present within the medium-term expenditure framework, signalling its continued, albeit challenged, presence in the government’s long-term plans. NHI: More aspiration than reality? Craig Comrie, CEO of…
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Motsoaledi fiddles while the health crisis deepens
The shocking state of South Africa’s public hospitals has once again been thrust into the spotlight with damning reports on conditions at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital and Helen Joseph Hospital in Gauteng. These institutions, meant to serve the most vulnerable, are instead plagued by neglect, underfunding, and infrastructure collapse. In March 2023, then-health ombud Malegapuru Makgoba released a…
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Cosatu’s stand against NHI amendments: A political showdown
The battle over South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI) Act has escalated, with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) refusing to support any amendments. As President Cyril Ramaphosa weighs potential revisions in talks with the Democratic Alliance (DA), Cosatu warns that altering the legislation could destabilise the ruling tripartite alliance. The NHI Act, which aims to provide universal…
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First NHI draft regulations released by Health Minister
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has taken a significant step towards implementing the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act by publishing the first draft regulations. These regulations focus on Section 55 of the Act, detailing the governance structure and processes of the NHI Fund, a cornerstone of the ANC’s ambitious plan for universal health coverage. While the Act has yet to be…
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Experts warn against using PIC funds for NHI and hospitals
In a recent development, South African Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi suggested using PIC funds to finance the construction of public hospitals and support the NHI initiative. However, financial experts argue that the PIC, which manages over R2.7 trillion in assets for the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), should only fund revenue-generating government health projects that align with its mandate.…
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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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NHI poses a significant risk to SA’s economic reform
Francois Gouws, CEO of PSG Financial Services, has expressed concerns about the National Health Insurance (NHI) and its potential impact on South Africa’s economic reform efforts. After the company released its latest financial results, Gouws highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the NHI, which he called “the elephant in the room” for economic reform. Gouws emphasised that the lack of clarity around…
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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…