Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa last year during the signing of the NGV. The court has now ruled that the decision may be reviewed. (Archive photo: GCIS)
On Monday, Solidarity issued a reminder to pres. Cyril Ramaphosa and Aaron Motsoaledi, the Minister of Health, directed their respective legal teams to get clarity on the government’s intentions regarding the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI).
The organization demands clarity after Ramaphosa recently indicated that the implementation of the NGV will continue. This despite the recent court ruling that prohibits certain aspects of it.
Solidarity says Ramaphosa’s misleading statements create great confusion among the public and undermine the public’s confidence in the government’s commitment to the rule of law.
“There are of course certain NGV-related projects that are not affected by the ruling,” Theuns du Buisson, economic researcher attached to the Solidarity Research Institute (SNI), conceded on Monday.
This includes projects such as upgrading hospitals and clinics, which are essential with or without NGV.
“But when the president says that the ruling will not affect the timeline for implementation, it is worrying,” says Du Buisson.
He says it is particularly worrying that there is apparently a commitment to already start registering people as NGV beneficiaries. “Should this be the case, it amounts to direct implementation and Solidarity will definitely have to intervene.”
The organization is still of the opinion that the NGV is not a workable solution to South Africa’s healthcare crisis.
“The NGV will never materialize,” Du Buisson insisted on Monday. “We are trying to prevent money that can and should improve health care from being wasted on senseless spending in the run-up to a system that will never materialize. South Africa cannot afford the NGV.”