Health Dept hits back at foundation over NHI criticism
The money for the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill will not be coming from the Health Ministry's budget but from the national public purse, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says.
Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi breaks down the NHI Bill. Picture: Thomas Holder/EWN
JOHANNESBURG – The money for the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill will not be coming from the Health Ministry's budget but from the national public purse.
This is according to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi who announced amendments to the Medical Schemes Bill and the soon to be implemented NHI Bill.
The amendments to the medical scheme bill are still to be debated and gazetted for public comment.
Motsoaledi says depending on what National Treasury will decide, every South African through tax will contribute to the NHI.
He says this is one of the ways to eliminate inequality in the country.
“NHI is going to be a mandatory for health services, meaning once it’s a law, all South Africans will need to contribute into it if Treasury rules that it is to be funded through contributions from the population.
“We don’t know what they’re going to rule but if it’s mandatory, it means you can’t opt out of it, just like the Constitution.”