READER LETTER | NHI will certainly benefit all citizens

SA is on the verge of fundamental healthcare reform as the National Health Insurance (NHI) bill awaits assent into law by the president.

In a recent statement, President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed commitment to enact the NHI before the end of the sixth administration. This assurance underlines the government’s dedication to realise universal health coverage for all South Africans.

The NHI will revolutionise the healthcare system by establishing a single-payer model that pools resources to provide comprehensive health services to all citizens. The fragmented healthcare system is overdue for reform given its inequities in access to quality care.

Unsurprisingly, the poor are disproportionately affected, with Oxfam recently highlighting the widening inequality in SA, which extends to healthcare. The NHI will emerge as an important equaliser in this context, ensuring that every individual, irrespective of their socioeconomic status, has access to the healthcare services they need.

This system will not only promote equity but also improve the overall health outcomes of the population, leading to a more prosperous nation. It is crucial to embrace this positive step towards health equity in the country, and this will only be possible if all patriots rally behind this transformative agenda to ensure its successful implementation for the benefit of all our people.

Benjamin Mogoye, email