Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) is encouraged by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent promises to “resolve differences” and “bring stakeholders together” on the thorny NHI issue, and now plans to set up a meeting with Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi.
The business lobby group was responding to Ramaphosa’s address at the opening of Parliament on Thursday, when he adopted what some saw as a more conciliatory tone, emphasising that resources from both the public and private sectors were needed to meet SA’s healthcare needs.
For BUSA, this was an encouraging sign, reports News24.
“The NHI Act in its current form is unaffordable, unsustainable and creates material risk for the country and taxpayers,” said CEO Cas Coovadia in a statement.
“We believe a collaborative approach is crucial in advancing healthcare objectives, and our collective vision for universal health coverage in particular.”
Coovadai said BUSA would urgently seek a meeting with Motsoaledi.
“We have demonstrated the power of partnership both during Covid, and currently –the same is possible in our healthcare sector, and we are committed to constructive engagement with government in this regard.”
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