President Cyril Ramaphosa has outlined significant progress in preparatory work for the National Health Insurance despite legal challenges that will see implementation of certain sections delayed until the Constitutional Court rules on the matter.
Responding to a question from EFF leader Julius Malema in parliament yesterday, the President detailed a range of measures underway to implement the NHI, which aims to provide universal health coverage for all South Africans.
Government is developing procedures for registering NHI users, establishing accreditation frameworks and creating contracting arrangements for healthcare providers.
Central to the implementation is the rollout of digital health systems that will allow patient records to be tracked across both public and private healthcare facilities. These include a Health Patient Registration System linked to the Department of Home Affairs’ population register and an Electronic Medical Record system expected to be rolled out to more than 3 500 public healthcare facilities over the next 15 months.
The President said government is also investing in healthcare infrastructure through the rebuilding of older hospitals and construction of new hospitals, clinics and health centres, whilst improving hospital governance.
Efforts are also underway to employ more doctors, health professionals and community health workers.
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Ramaphosa said that government has undertaken not to proclaim sections of the NHI Act until the Constitutional Court has ruled on legal challenges relating to the public participation process followed during the adoption of the legislation. The cases are expected to be heard in early May 2026.
He said the undertaking, which has been made an order of court, will not affect the overall timetable for implementing the NHI or halt the work currently underway.
“The NHI aims to establish a single national fund that will allow for the equitable purchasing of health services from public and private healthcare providers,” the President said.
President Ramaphosa said the reforms introduced through the NHI are complex and will be implemented gradually in line with available financial resources.
“We are determined to ensure that every South African has equal access to quality health care regardless of their ability to pay,” he said.
The National Health Insurance is South Africa’s mechanism to implement Universal Health Coverage as designed by the World Health Organisation and adopted unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly.
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