Ramaphosa passes full coverage health laws before election
A significant turning point in South Africa’s healthcare reform efforts has been reached with the formal signing into law of a bill aimed at universal health coverage by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Speaking at the Union Buildings in Pretoria signing ceremony , Ramaphosa hailed the legislation as an essential first step toward establishing a more egalitarian society, particularly in view of the impending fiercely competitive election that is only two weeks away. Ramaphosa emphasized how urgently reform is required and criticized the fragmented and unsustainable nature of the existing healthcare infrastructure. He also characterized the current system as ineffective. The National Health Insurance (NHI) Act tackles the current two-tier health system, which has resulted in a significant percentage of the population being underserved. At the same time, the act offers increased treatment alternatives for individuals who have private insurance. With the new law, private insurance will be g