The National Health Insurance Bill 11B of 2019 was passed by the National Assembly on 13 June 2023. The Bill has been referred to the Select Committee on Health and Social Services of the National Council of Provinces. The confirmation of the above-mentioned can be found in the Announcements, Tablings, and Committee Reports released by Parliament on 13 June 2023.
Our weekly newsletters, the Health Law Alert and Insurance Law Alert provide valuable updates on the Bill's progress, including insights from stakeholders and media commentary. Here is a selection of recent content featured in our Health Law and Insurance Law Alerts:
Law Firm Articles
Kirby, Neil. National Health Insurance Bill and the possible implications for private healthcare. - 2023 Jun 9 Werksmans Attorneys
Kirby, Neil and Michael, Helen. National Health Insurance: What benefit; for whom, where and how? - 2023 Jun 23 Werksmans Attorneys
Naicker, Randhir. National Health Insurance Bill. - 2023 Sept 7 Cox Yeats Attorneys
Media Comments
7 new laws coming to South Africa – what to watch out for. - 2023 Jul 7 Business Tech
‘Approving NHI poses a threat to trust’, says private hospital body. - 2023 Jun 7 91.3 News
BHF raises more concerns about NHI. - 2023 Sept 13 The Citizen
Butler, Anthony. The anxiety about our version of NHI is justified. - 2023 Jun 23 Business Live
Correcting the misconceptions about NHI. - 2023 Jul 5 Juta Medical Brief
Crisp, Nicholas. ‘It’s far more complex’ — the health department responds to NHI op-ed. - 2023 Sept 6 Business Live
George, Dion. ANC’s proposal for tax increases to fund NHI will trigger a tax revolt. - 2023 Jul 3 DA
Githahu, Mwangi. Health department assures on financial governance as NHI Bill arrives in Cape legislature. - 2023 Aug 8 IOL News
GTC. Will South Africans really have “free healthcare”? - 2023 Jun 29 FA News
Hans, Bongani. Bad hospitals won’t benefit from NHI. - 2023 Jul 19 IOL News
Health Department calls for NHI IT tenders. - 2023 Jul 12 Juta Medical Brief
In-depth – what two major bills might mean for health sector procurement. - 2023 Sept 8 Daily Maverick
Kahn, Tamar. BHF urges NCOP to rein in minister’s powers over medical schemes in NHI bill. - 2023 Aug 24 Business Live
Kahn, Tamar. Business groups drop NHI tax bombshell. - 2023 Aug 29 Business Live
Kahn, Tamar. Flawed NHI bill will hinder universal health coverage, says BHF. - 2023 Jun 8 Business Live
Kunene, Zano. What goes into your medical aid premium — and what it means for the NHI. - 2023 Aug 22 Mail & Guardian
Losi, Zingiswa. South Africa’s overburdened healthcare system is broken, we need the NHI to fix it. - 2023 Jul 27 Daily Maverick
Maeko, Thando. ANC gives itself nine months to clean up its act. - 2023 Sept 3 Business Live
Makatini, Phumele. Medical schemes want to work with SA to bring access to healthcare to all. - 2023 Aug 13 Business Live
Malan, Mia [et.al]. What you need to know about the NHI’s two new chief directors. - 2023 Jul 19 Business Live
Maleke, Dieketseng. Solidarity beats litigation drum with NHI Bill one step closer. - 2023 Jun 15 IOL News
Mdluli, Mlondi. It’s time medical insurers spoke up about NHI. - 2023 Sept 4 Business Live
Minister’s powers in NHI ‘unconstitutional’. - 2023 Jul 19 Juta Medical Brief
Mkhwanazi, Siyabonga. NCOP extends deadline for public to comment on NHI Bill. - 2023 Aug 21 IOL News
Moichela, Kamogelo. NHI doomed to fail, says Public Servants Association. - 2023 Jun 27 IOL News
Mukwevho, Ndivhuwo. Can the Public Procurement Bill help curb corruption within the NHI? - 2023 Jul 31 Health-e News
NHI is already sending South African doctors and nurses out the door. - 2023 Jul 31 Business Tech
NHI will leave everyone in South Africa worse off: CEO. - 2023 Jun 5 Business Tech
Nkanjeni, Unathi. 'It's time all South Africans are afforded the right to healthcare': Cosatu welcomes passing of NHI Bill. - 2023 Jun 15 Times Live
Nkanjeni, Unathi. Ramaphosa praises NHI at UN General Assembly, while doctors in SA raise concerns. - 2023 Sept 19 The Citizen
Opperman, Ina. Healthcare leaders reiterate NHI Bill concerns. - 2023 Sept 7 The Citizen
Opperman, Ina. NHI a vote-earning fantasy – BLSA CEO Busi Mavuso. - 2023 Jul 10 The Citizen
Prinsen, Larisse. South Africa’s National Health Insurance bill has noble aims but leaves too much uncertain: it needs more work. - 2023 Jun 29 The Conversation
SA doctors 'implore' NCOP to reject NHI Bill in current form. – 2023 Jul 24 Polity
Sinxo, Zolani. SA Medical Association says NHI Bill used as electioneering tool. - 2023 Jun 24 IOL News
Small, but critical changes can make NHI work - BUSA/B4SA. - 2023 Sept 18 Politics Web
Stokes, Gareth. NHI framework fatally flawed. - 2023 Jul 18 FA News
Thambo, Sinawo. Why we're opposed to the NHI Bill – EFF. - 2023 Jun 14 Politics Web
The absurd tax changes South Africa would have to make to afford the NHI. - 2023 Aug 18 Business Tech
Xulu, Khethukuthula. NHI Bill will drive doctors away. - 2023 Aug 5 The Witness
Media Statements
Polity. Last chance to protest against NHI Bill. 20 September 2023.
South African Medical Association. SAMA Media Statement in Response to Parliamentary Committee Approving the NHI Bill. 26 May 2023. [“The National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill is at the centre of debates and concerns raised by all healthcare stakeholders, including the South African Medical Association (SAMA). It has been stated many times that the implementation of the NHI Fund alone is insufficient to embody the principle of universal health coverage (UHC) as enshrined in the South African Constitution and thus while SAMA supports the principle of UHC it does not support the Bill in its current form. This statement is not a detailed critique of the Bill but general comments based on recent engagements the SAMA Board has had with the NHI Directorate.”]
Parliamentary Committee Report
Report of the Portfolio Committee on Health on the National Health Insurance Bill [B11 – 2019] (National Assembly – sec 76)], dated 26 May 2023 - 2023 May 26 Parliament of South Africa. Announcements, Tablings, and Committee Report p6 [“The Portfolio Committee on Health recommends that the House adopts this report and approves the second reading of the National Health Insurance Bill [B11B-2019].”]
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Published: 14 June 2023
Updated: 21 June 2023; 29 June 2023; 6 July 2023, 13 July 2023; 21 July 2023; 27 July 2023; 4 Aug 2023; 17 August 2023; 1 September; 7 September 2023; 14 September 2023; 22 September 2023