On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa expressed his intention to sign a National Health Insurance (NHI) bill into law, with the aim of providing universal health coverage to all South Africans. However, he did not specify a timeframe for this enactment.
The NHI bill, which will be implemented gradually with a significant financial cost, is awaiting President Ramaphosa's approval after being passed by lawmakers last year.
During a press conference in Cape Town, President Ramaphosa stated that it is only a matter of time before the bill is signed into law, but did not elaborate further on the matter.
The objective of this law is to offer healthcare services to millions of individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds, as part of a comprehensive reform aimed at addressing the deep-seated racial and social inequalities that persist long after the end of white minority rule.
However, the bill has faced opposition from business groups, who argue that it could discourage investment in the healthcare sector and further harm South Africa's already fragile economy.
Both Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and Business for South Africa (B4SA) expressed their support for the idea of universal health coverage earlier this month, but voiced concerns regarding the bill's design and implementation. They have called for the bill to be sent back to parliament for amendments.
Although the bill is popular among voters, especially in the lead up to a competitive election year in South Africa, experts believe that substantial changes are unlikely to occur in the near future, even after the bill is signed into law.
Analysts predict that the NHI bill may encounter significant legal challenges that could prolong its implementation for several years. According to Louw Nel, a senior political analyst at Oxford Economics Africa, the bill is expected to face various obstacles in court proceedings.