Mkhize: NHI Bill ready to be tabled
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize claims the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill is ready to be tabled in Parliament.
The NHI aims to provide health services for free at private and public health facilities as part of the government’s bid to provide more equitable access to healthcare.
Mkhize gave a presentation on the NHI before the Portfolio Committee on Health in Parliament on Thursday.
“We’ve had several records of certification of the bill as being consistent with the constitutional principles,” he said, in response the Democratic Alliance (DA) questioning the constitutionality of the bill.
“As the bill stands, we believe that the bill is ready to be tabled as having been passed by Cabinet.”
There has been criticism of the bill from several quarters, including the South African Private Practitioners’ Forum (SAPPF) which deems it impractical.