SACP welcomes passing of the National Health Insurance Bill by the National Council of Provinces

6 December 2023

The South African Communist Party (SACP) welcomes the passing of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill by the National Council of Provinces today. This marks a significant milestone towards aligning our healthcare system with the principles of equality and social solidarity. The SACP stresses the importance of redistributing more from high incomes and more so the surplus that the wealthy appropriate from our economy to deliver quality universal healthcare coverage.

The next step is for the President to sign the Bill into law, to ensure that the NHI is implemented in line with the developmental aspirations of the people, the majority of whom are working-class and poor, to contribute towards dismantling social inequality in healthcare and the neglect of too many workers and poor people’s health needs. Part of this work will be the establishment of a National Health Insurance Fund, guaranteeing free, quality and comprehensive healthcare coverage for all.

Issued by Alex Mohubetswane Mashilo, National Spokesperson & Political Bureau Secretary for Policy and Research, 6 December 2023