NCOP postpones NHI bill to next week | the citizen

The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has delayed the passage of the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill.

The Bill, which paves the way for universal healthcare in South Africa, was recently passed by the NCOP’s Select Committee on Health and Social Services without any amendments.

The NCOP was scheduled to vote on the draft legislation on Wednesday, but the matter has been postponed until next week.

Also Read: NHI: What about medical schemes and medical insurance?

This was confirmed during the hybrid plenary session held on Wednesday afternoon.

NCOP President Amos Masondo told MPs that the party’s main organizers agreed to postpone the vote.

African National Congress (ANC) NCOP chief organizer Seiso Mohai proposed the date of December 6.

“I want to confirm that consideration of the National Health Insurance Bill 2019 will be adjourned to December 6, Wednesday next week… so the motion will be amended accordingly,” Mohai said.

Watch the conference below.

‘no fear’

The NHI bill has drawn criticism from Business Unity South Africa (Busa), Business for South Africa (B4SA) and the South African Health Professionals Collaboration (SAHPC).

Many argue that the laws in their current form are unconstitutional because, among other things, they do not provide for public-private sector cooperation.

But Presidential Spokesman Vincent Magwenya has said there should be no fuss over the bill as President Cyril Ramaphosa himself had to scrutinize the legislation to see if it complies with the constitution.

Concerns have been expressed directly to the President regarding certain parts of the bill. Once the bill is passed, there is still a constitutional requirement that the bill be drafted before the president signs it. He will look at the process.

Read more: Tax hike to fund NHI devastates economist

“One of the things he is looking at is whether there have been sufficient consultations and if so, whether the concerns have been adequately addressed by those consultations,” Magwenya told a press conference on Wednesday.

Magwenya said it was within Ramaphosa’s “constitutional love” to send a bill back to parliament if the president had any concerns.

“The passage of the bill does not necessarily mark the end of the process. The President does not sign a bill every time it is delivered. If he wants, he can open another round of consultations to satisfy himself that what he signs will not be subject to endless litigation.

“I don’t think there should be any fuss over the passage of the NHI Bill. The President will do whatever it takes to ensure that the bill is passed by the head of the Constitution and that the bill serves its ultimate purpose at the end of the day,” the presidential spokesperson added.

Read the bill below:

National Health Insurance B… By Molefe Seeletsa

What is the NHI Bill?

The NHI Bill proposes to scrap comprehensive medical schemes, despite almost nine million South Africans being members of Medicaid.

It also suggests that most health services, including doctors’ visits and medicines, will be free for everyone and medical schemes will not be able to provide cover for services paid for by the NHI.

The draft law further states that the government will levy an additional tax on citizens’ personal income tax, and use the money saved without tax relief to become a member of a medical scheme.

Now Read: Govt to bulldoze NHI bill through Parliament, brushes aside all concerns