There’s a hint of optimism among Business Unity SA (Busa) members after a Presidential meeting that was held on Tuesday, with the organisation saying it was encouraged by the government’s “openness to engage” on the National Health Insurance Act (NHI).
At the President’s request, it will now be submitting a proposal to address its concerns, reports Business Day.
The meeting saw Busa leadership discussing the contentious legislation with President Cyril Ramaphosa, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, his deputy, Joe Phaahla, and senior officials from the Presidency and the National Department of Health.
“Busa will prepare a proposal detailing solutions to address its concerns as a basis for further engagement …the primary objective being to render the NHI Act workable, affordable and implementable, while advancing universal health coverage and ensuring an equitable healthcare system for all,” it said yesterday.
In a statement on Tuesday night, the Presidency had said the government remained committed to “engaging with all stakeholders” on health reform and to “finding workable solutions that will advance quality and affordable healthcare for all”.
Earlier this week, the President had said he was quite willing to meet business organisations to discuss their objections to the NHI – after a request from Busa – and appeared to have also gently chastised Motsoaleldi for his unyielding stance.
Ramaphosa said: “I had a long discussion with the Minister of Health and said to him, ‘we must never say to South Africans that we will not meet you or that there are things that cannot be discussed. Anything can be discussed because it is in discussing matters that you can find a solution’. So yes, the NHI will be discussed with business, and we will see what proposals are put forward.”
He added that he wanted solutions and proposals, not just criticism, reports News24.
“Don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions. What is the political cost going to be? What is the economic cost? What is the social cost?”
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Business group upbeat after Ramaphosa’s NHI comments
Government open to more talks and ‘collaboration’ on NHI
Class divisions inhibit honest conversations about the NHI
Ramaphosa says that revision of NHI is ‘far advanced’
Motsoaledi slams NHI sceptics and scaremongers