Signing of Second Presidential Health Compact delayed amid unhappiness over NHI

CAPE TOWN - Plans to sign the Second Presidential Health Compact have been called off at least for another week, amid ongoing unhappiness over the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI).

The bill was hurriedly signed into law before the May polls, five years after being tabled in Parliament. 

The move was widely viewed as the African National Congress (ANC) running scared ahead of what turned out to be a dismal electoral performance.

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On Wednesday, Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) said it would boycott the signing ceremony if it went ahead on Thursday because it could not endorse the NHI in its current form.

In what appears set to become one of the Government of National Unity (GNU)'s first major challenges is how to resolve the opposition to the way in which a National Health Insurance will be introduced. 

Parties within the GNU itself have been vehemently opposed to its structure from the onset. 

The health sector vowed to go to court. 

Now Business Unity South Africa says there’s been no consultation on the wording of the draft presidential compact, which was due to be signed on Thursday and none of the concerns raised by the private sector have been addressed. 

BUSA CEO Cas Coovadia said that while not opposed to universal health coverage, in its current form the proposal is unworkable, unaffordable and unconstitutional. 

In a statement from the Presidency earlier this week, it said this second compact would build on the inaugural summit of 2018 to develop sustainable solutions to challenges in the national health system. 

On Wednesday, it announced the signing would go ahead next Thursday, without providing reasons for the postponement.