Health Funders Association challenges NHI Act over cost and constitutionality
JOHANNESBURG – The Health Funders Association (HFA) is mounting a legal challenge against key aspects of the newly signed National Health Insurance (NHI) Act, citing serious constitutional and economic concerns.
HFA CEO Thoneshan Naidoo says while the organisation supports the goal of universal healthcare, the current NHI framework is fundamentally flawed.
'The debate around national health insurance has been ongoing for years,' said Naidoo. 'Unfortunately, despite consistently raising our concerns, we've now been forced to take legal action.'
The HFA commissioned an independent expert to assess the economic impact of implementing the NHI as it currently stands.
The findings are stark: For South Africa to provide the same level of care promised under the NHI -- equivalent to what private medical schemes currently offer -- it would require the country's 7.4 million taxpayers to double their current tax contributions , a cost Naidoo says is simply unaffordable.
In addition to the financial strain, Naidoo highlighted a massive shortfall in human resources.
'To provide the same level of care across the population, we would need an additional 286,000 healthcare professionals, which the country currently does not have,' he added.
Naidoo maintains the Act, in its current form, is economically unsustainable and constitutionally questionable, and does not align with the realities of South Africa's healthcare infrastructure.
The legal challenge is expected to intensify debate around the future of healthcare reform in the country.
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