News24 | Ramaphosa to sign National Health Insurance Bill into law

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to sign the controversial National Health Insurance Bill into law on Wednesday. (Jaco Marais/Gallo Images/Die Burger)

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to sign the controversial National Health Insurance Bill into law on Wednesday.

This according to a statement issued by the Presidency on Monday evening.

The bill aims to establish universal healthcare for all South Africans by abolishing the "two-tier" system, in which the bulk of healthcare spending is made in the private sector for the benefit of the few, while the mass of the population is relegated to the "underfunded" public sector. 

In December, the National Council of Provinces voted in favour of the NHI Bill, paving the way for the president to sign it into law.

News24 previously reported the DA and Business Unity SA said they would petition Ramaphosa not to sign the bill and to refer it back to Parliament.

READ | 'GPs will be better off' under NHI, says health department boss

Both argued it was unconstitutional because section 33 - which talks about phasing out the benefits for which medical schemes may reimburse members for - would limit access to healthcare rather than progressively expanding it.

News24 previously reported since the bill was introduced in 2019, no changes have been made in four years, despite critical comments from the medical profession, private healthcare industry, medical aid schemes, and other stakeholders.

It was also reported should the NHI system be signed into law, the opposition would take the matter to court.