The DA vows to challenge the NHI legally
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is optimistic that a discussion with President Cyril Ramaphosa will address their concerns about the current form of the National Health Insurance (NHI).
“Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi was not part of the GNU negotiations, and as a coalition partner, we will address our concerns around the NHI directly with the President. It was a red line for us when negotiating but we were assured by the president that discussions around it will continue, so we are confident there will be a resolution. Our leadership will handle this,” the party’s health spokesperson, Michele Clarke told IOL.
Despite the ANC’s commitment to the NHI, which aims to provide equitable and free healthcare to all citizens, the policy faces backlash from medical schemes, business leaders, and civil groups, who argue it’s unsustainable. The DA has pledged to challenge the policy legally, while the ANC remains resolute in moving forward, regardless of the DA’s objections.
Motsoaledi’s spokesperson, Foster Mohale, dismissed the DA’s concerns, emphasizing that discussions about health policy must involve the Health Minister and that the NHI is already law. He noted that only implementation details are now up for discussion.
In response, a defiant Michele Clarke of the DA criticized Motsoaledi’s stance. “If Minister Motsoaledi is willing to jeopardize a unified government for his personal ideology, then he should not
be serving in that government,” Clarke asserted.