NHI bill not ready for Parliament, says Motsoaledi
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced on Tuesday that the draft National Health Insurance (NHI) bill is not ready to be tabled before Parliament.
However, a war room has been set up to address issues plaguing the public health system.
Motsoaledi was speaking in Tuynhuys in Cape Town, where he delivered the Presidential Health Summit report on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The report was intended to give feedback on the summit.
Motsoaledi said the summit adopted the principle of one country, one health system. It also gave unanimous support for the National Health Insurance and for the principles of universal quality health coverage.
"The NHI aims to embed the principles that health care services will be based on clinical need and not the ability to pay. Healthcare will therefore be free at the point of service."
Motsoaledi said the NHI delivery model will be based on the primary health care approach and providing preventative, promotive, curative and rehabilitative services.
"Our approach has been that when everything is done and dusted about NHI and its going to Parliament, we will make that announcement."
Motsoaledi says the presidency has set up a war room to deal with the magnitude of the challenges in healthcare.
"This war room brings together brings various key departments to address the crisis in public health system while preparing the implementation of NHI."
LISTEN BELOW: