Ramaphosa signs NHI Bill into law
The president said that the NHI would help eradicate the unequal access to healthcare.
President Cyril Ramaphosa (centre) signed the National Health Insurance Bill into law at the Union Buildings in Tswhane on 15 May 2024. Picture: GCIS
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially signed the contentious National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill into law despite the many objections it faces.
The piece of legislation, which has been on the president's desk since June last year, paves the way for universal access to quality healthcare in the country.
Despite mounting objections, Ramaphosa announced that it was all systems go during a public ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Years after it was first introduced, President Ramaphosa signed on the dotted line.
While it's now law, Ramaphosa said that the NHI was set to be implemented gradually over the next couple of years.
Once rolled out, he said that the benefits of the legislation would be beyond universal healthcare.
"The NHI is an important instrument to tackle poverty. The rising cost of healthcare makes families poor and it's sad to hear families saying they're paying for healthcare."
He has assured South Africans that the government would not misuse the funds set aside for the NHI.
"Through the NHI, we plan to improve the effectiveness of healthcare provision by requiring all healt facilities to achieve minimum healthcare standards."
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) announced that it was turning to the courts to raise objections over the National Health Insurance.