Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has emphasised government’s commitment to implement the National Health Insurance (NHI).

He has lambasted those who debate the NHI without reading the Act. Motsoaledi says as soon as people hear transformative processes to improve the lives of the poor, there is an uproar. He says the NHI will be about the distribution of health funds to help everyone, including the poor.

He added that strengthening the healthcare system remained a priority.

Motsoaledi says the NHI would be implemented gradually and was not a once-off event.

“NHI, it’s a healthcare financing system that covers everybody regardless of their socio-economic status. That is what it means. And it has two dimensions. The first one is that all people receive quality healthcare by all means no matter how poor you are”

“The second one is that when you receive that quality healthcare you must not [be left in] financial hardships. Or what the WHO calls catastrophic healthcare expenditure,” explains Motsoaledi.

ActionSA MP Dr Kgosi Letlape says NHI is another medical aid whose funds are in the hands of the Minister of Health.

Letlape, who is also former Healthcare Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA) president, told the National Assembly during the SONA debate that funding the NHI shouldn’t be a problem.

“As the minister will tell you in some of his presentations, our problem is not finance. We spending enough of the GDP. NHI is another medical aid under the minister. That does not change that,” adds Letlape.