SONA debate: Motsoaledi tells MPs NHI is here to stay
He's also moved to clear up confusion that its full implementation has been removed from the Medium-Term Development Plan.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi during the SONA debate in Parliament on 12 February 2025. Picture: Phando Jikelo/Parliament of SA
CAPE TOWN - Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has a message for doomsayers: that the National Health Insurance (NHI) is here to stay.
He's also moved to clear up confusion that its full implementation has been removed from the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP).
This after conflicting reports last week that sections related to private medical aids, will not be included in the plan – after discussions between the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Minister in the Presidency for planning, monitoring and evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa.
Motsoaledi dedicated his entire response to the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Wednesday to explain how the NHI will be introduced.
Motsoaledi has backed an announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the SONA last week - that this administration will start the implementation of universal health care.
READ: Ramaphosa commits to proceeding with preparatory work for setting up NHI
"Honourable Matthew Cuthbert said that he’s happy NHI is no longer in the Medium-Term Development Plan. Sorry sir, it is there, and it ought to be there, and it’s going to continue to be there."
But Motsoaledi said its implementation will be done in phases and as money allows.
"There’s no other way of implementing NHI, except gradually. There's no other country in the world that did it in any other way because it’s impossible. it’s just impossible."
Motsoaledi said strengthening the health care system and implementing national insurance are not mutually exclusive and the upgrade of hospitals is strategic to its implementation.