President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is likely to sign the controversial health insurance bill before this year's national elections, according to Khumbudzo Nshabeni, a member of his cabinet.
Speaking on the sidelines of Ramaphosa's cabinet's annual strategy meeting in the capital, Pretoria, on Thursday, Prime Minister Nshabheni said under the new government, “it is our top priority to get it signed during this period to enable full implementation.” I'm thinking about it.''
The National Council of States of Parliament approved the National Health Insurance Bill in December and referred it to the President. The president can either approve the bill or ask lawmakers to amend it if it is deemed legally or technically flawed. The bill provides a framework for the provision of universal care through state funds and would prohibit the private sector from funding treatment covered by the scheme.
While there is widespread support for reforming the multi-billion rand private health industry, which now serves 16% of the population and relies on overburdened public facilities to balance it, NHI critics say the government's They claim the proposal does not include adequate costs. is unconstitutional and may be challenged in court.
The Cabinet's strategy session will take place ahead of the President's last address before the election, the State of the Union address on February 8th. The voting date has not yet been announced, but preparations are underway for what will be the most competitive vote since the end of white minority rule in 1994, with several opinion polls showing the ruling African National Congress at risk of losing an outright majority. has been shown to be exposed to. .
Other issues to be discussed at the conference include the country's power crisis, problems facing the national rail network, crime and the economy.