A legal showdown is looming between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) over the latter’s rejection of the National Health Insurance (NHI) which President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law on Wednesday.
The official opposition cites among others what it believes a lack of capacity on the government’s side, possible corruption and lack of public health infrastructure. The party briefed the media at the Union Buildings where President Cyril Ramaphosa had just performed a ceremonial signing of the bill and said the signing into law of the what was then the NHI bill.
The DA denied it was opposing the bill in defence of an extremely wealthy minority ( an estimated 15 percent of the population)who access private healthcare through medical aid schemes and private healthcare industry itself insisting it’s court action is meant to avoid a bigger crisis.
“We are not opposed to universal healthcare, particularly for the majority of black people but we have do the hard things if we are to be able to provide reliable healthcare to everybody and NHI is not what it is said to be. NHI is being presented as the silver bullet that will make all of our public health problems go away, it is not,” said DA National spokesperson Siviwe Rwarube.
The DA did not provide any alternatives except to refer journalists to the Western Cape where the party claims to be running an efficient public health system.
Ramaphosa said those rejecting NHI were essentially opposing transformation.
“The NHI is one of the initiatives through which we seek to close the gap of inequality which is so wide and race based,” said Ramaphosa to a joyful audience which was made up of health professionals as well as representatives of NGOs operating in the sector.
In terms of the NHI, anyone, including the poorest of the poor can seek medical attention at any health facilities including private ones they would otherwise not afford, get treatment and then have the state settle their bills at standardised prices.
The DA previously wrote to Ramaphosa requesting that he refer the bill back to parliament alleging flaws in the public consultation process undertaken by parliament ahead of its adoption. Deputy health minister Sibongiseni Dhlomo dismissed the claim saying consultation was done extensively and that the bill was endorsed overwhelmingly. Dlhomo also reminded the opposition that the portfolio committee had no obligation to adapt every suggestion made during the consultation.
Meanwhile both SACP and Cosatu, allies in the ANC-led tripartite alliance welcomed the new law and even attended the President’s symbolic signing ceremony.