The Department of Health welcomes the judgement delivered by the Pretoria High Court on Thursday, in which the Trade Union Solidarity’s legal challenge to prevent the government from implementing the National Health Insurance (NHI), failed.

This follows an attempt by Solidarity to interdict the department, through an urgent court application, from filling the advertised 44 vacancies as part of efforts by the department to establish a fully functioning NHI Branch, while the legislative process on the NHI Bill is underway.

The Union filed an urgent court application in the Pretoria High Court on the 12 October 2022, interdicting the department from making appointments of competent technical specialists to the NHI Branch to assist with the preparations for the functioning of the NHI Fund. The judge has dismissed the application by applicant (Solidarity) with costs.

The objectives of the NHI is to provide universal access to quality and affordable health care for all South Africans, irrespective of their socioeconomic status by ensuring that the use of health services does not result in financial hardship for individuals and their families.

The department applauds the court for ruling in the best interest of more than 84% of the population who are without medical aids and rely on public health system to receive health services.

Issued by Foster Mohale, Departmental Spokesperson, National Health Department, 11 November 2022