Several steps and years before citizens can access NHI

POLOKWANE – The National Health Insurance (NHI) has informed Polokwane Observer that it will take years before citizens can access nationalised healthcare at their local facilities under the new Act of Parliament.

President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the NHI bill into law as the National Health Insurance Act (No. 20 of 2023) on May 15.

This Act allows for the institutionalisation of various components necessary for the establishment of the National Health Insurance Fund and its governance and operational structures, according to NHI spokesperson Moremi Nkosi.

Nkosi explained that several steps remain after the Act’s signing.

“The next steps require the National Department of Health, led by the minister of health, to formally request the president to proclaim specific sections of the Act that should come into effect immediately. This will enable the phased implementation and establishment of the fund and its associated structures,” he said.

Nkosi added that the initial focus will be on implementing Sections 9 to 30 of the Act, as outlined in Section 57, which pertains to the first phase of the transition process.

“There are phases in realising this vision, starting with strengthening the current healthcare system. The goal is to have these measures fully implemented by the end of phase one, targeted for completion by 2026. This includes health system strengthening initiatives, and the establishment of the fund and its governance and operational structures,” Nkosi said.

He further highlighted the reasons for the phased approach: firstly to initiate the phased implementation of National Health Insurance to build the necessary systems and processes for universal health coverage and secondly, to ensure consistency with the transitional arrangements outlined in Section 57 of the Act.