HEALTH minister Joe Phaahla says that his department has budgeted R1.5 billion for National Health Insurance infrastructure projects in the coming year, as the government doubles down on its commitment to the universal healthcare scheme, despite numerous challenges and objections.
Tabling his department’s budget vote before a mini-plenary of the National Assembly on Wednesday (11 May), Phaahla urged all members of Parliament to support the NHI Bill, which is in front of the Health Portfolio Committee.
He said the bill was essential to realising the ANC’s vision of universal healthcare in South Africa, and would work off the foundation currently being established for an integrated health system.
NHI spending has decreased over the last two years as the government pivoted its healthcare budget to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Phaalha has indicated that the NHI was not forgotten and that much of the Covid-19 spend was in aid of
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