By Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) has expressed concern regarding the signing into law the NHI Bill by President Cyril Ramaphosa today. BUSA points out that the NHI has adverse long term effects on the economy of South Africa.
According to the CEO of BUSA Cas Coovadia; the NHI has many substantive and procedural constitutional flaws, and believes that in its current form, it is un-implementable and damaging to the country’s healthcare sector, to the economy more broadly and to investor confidence.
“We fully support the objective of universal health coverage, however, the NHI Bill in its current form is unworkable, unaffordable, and not in line with the Constitution. What is especially troubling is that the President is proceeding with the Bill despite extensive constructive inputs made by a wide range of stakeholders, including doctors and healthcare professionals, civil society, public sector unions, academics and business,” said Coovadia in a statement.
Coovadia says, it is unfortunate to implement the bill in its current form because it defeats its intendent purpose, he says it will instead hamper the vision rather than promote access to quality healthcare to all citizens of South Africa.
“Consequently, we will pay close attention to the President’s announcement on Wednesday, based on which we will consider our options. Our subsequent actions will be guided by our belief that it is essential that we get the NHI right through all means still at our disposal, including appropriate legal interventions, so that the legislation that is finally implemented is in the best interest of our country, and all her people, for generations to come,” concludes Coovadia.
