Solidarity’s court application against NHI was opposed last week by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who had officially given notice that he would oppose it – as had the Minister of Health – after various groups and political parties had described the policy as unconstitutional, unworkable, and unaffordable.
Solidarity Chief Executive Anton van der Bijl said the battle lines have been drawn, reports IOL.
“The court battle is now fully under way. The president has shown his hand as far as the NHI is concerned. Numerous political parties have indicated that the scrapping of, or at least drastic amendments to the NHI, is a precondition for participation in coalitions and a government of national unity.”
Solidarity’s looming legal battle against Ramaphosa takes place weeks after the labour organisation’s resistance to NHI received a boost from like-minded political parties and civil society organisations at the NHI Crisis Summit held in Centurion.
Van der Bijl said Solidarity served its court papers on the government on 24 May, and at the summit had also called on various political parties and pressure groups to support each other’s actions against the NHI Act, be it through litigation, political processes or civil pressure.
IOL article – Solidarity vows to oppose Ramaphosa over NHI in court battle (Open access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Medical schemes and union kickstart NHI legal challenges
NHI Bill signing sets stage for protracted battle in courts
First NHI legal challenge kicks off today as Ramaphosa prepares to sign Bill
Judgment reserved in first NHI challenge
Solidarity: Judgment reserved in application to have NHI ‘certificate of need’ declared invalid