AfriForum warns Department of Health: There are no current grounds to publish NHI regulations
29 August 2024
AfriForum warns that there are several reasons why regulations in terms of the National Health Insurance Act (NHI) should not be published now (if ever). These include the fact that the act has not yet been promulgated by the President; that the Minister of Health has undertaken to first gather further input from the public; that the constitutionality of NHI is currently being investigated by the courts; and that several other laws must first be amended before NHI can be implemented.
The civil rights organisation’s warning follows after the National Department of Health’s (NDOH) Head of NHI, Dr Nicholas Crisp, informed the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) that preliminary regulations for NHI are expected to be published within the next month. AfriForum points out that the publication will be premature and that the NDOH has other matters that must be given priority.
According to Louis Boshoff, Campaign Officer at AfriForum, the department turns a deaf ear to all indications that NHI is unconstitutional, unworkable and uncalled for. “This is nothing but the next step to push through ANC policy in the health sector. Moreover, these premature regulations will be undone if NHI is declared unconstitutional.”
There have already been two court applications brought against NHI, with more to follow. The Minister of Health also announced that he would undertake a roadshow to obtain input from the public about their needs regarding NHI. Meanwhile, the only standing legislation is the NHI Act, which was ratified on 15 May this year but has not yet been promulgated. “Now the NDOH wants to ignore all these pending cases and proceed with regulations, as if there is no concern about NHI,” explains Boshoff.
AfriForum has constantly criticised the proposed NHI system and intends to issue a summons against the government for the damage that NHI may cause to the South African health system. Other problems with NHI include that it will discourage doctors from practising in South Africa, that it will drive tax rates sky high and that the NHI fund could become a source of corruption.
“There are numerous challenges within the current health system that must first be faced before the NDOH should concern them with NHI dreams.”
Issued by Louis Boshoff, Campaign Officer, AfriForum, 30 August 2024
