Riyaz Patel
The Portfolio Committee on Health in Parliament has extended the period for written submissions on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill to the end of November.
The Committee had called for written submissions from the public on the Bill at the beginning of September 2019, with the initial closing date slated for 11 October 2019.
Committee chair, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, said the parliamentary body had received numerous requests from stakeholder bodies and individuals, appealing for the extension of the closing date for written submissions on the NHI Bill.
“The stakeholders proposed mid-November as the closing date for written submissions. The committee has agreed to extend the closing date by two weeks more than the time requested by the stakeholders as there will be no other extension for written submissions,” he said.
Dhlomo pointed out that the new deadline for written submissions will not affect the start of the public hearings on the NHI, which are scheduled to start on 25 October in Mpumalanga.
The Committee advised that written submissions be directed to Vuyokazi Majalamba at the Portfolio Committee on Health, e-mailed to vmajalamba@parliament.gov.za, or faxed to 086 6943279 by no later than 29 November 2019.
In addition to the written comments, interested parties will also be able make verbal presentations.
