WC the only province to raise objections to NHI draft regulations

THE ANC in the province says the Western Cape Government's rejection of the draft National Health Insurance (NHI) regulations reflects a political choice to defend privilege rather than fix inequality.

- NICOLA DANIELS

The province is the only in the country to have raised objections to the draft governance regulations relating to the implementation of the NHI Fund.

Health MEC, Mireille Wenger said the Western Cape Cabinet had approved comments from the provincial department of Health and Wellness expressing “strong objections to the draft governance regulations”.

The NHI is a centralised, national insurance fund designed to provide universal health coverage. It aims to ensure all South Africans have access to quality and affordable healthcare services, regardless of their socio-economic status.

The draft regulations seek to provide for the establishment of structures and processes for the governance of the fund.

It represents the first formal step towards establishing the NHI Fund, to centralise all healthcare funding under the national government, said Wenger.