ActionSA Urges President Ramaphosa Not to Sign NHI Bill, Citing Risk of State Capture 2.0

In a bid to avert a potential second phase of state capture, ActionSA has penned a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, urging him not to sign the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, recently approved by Parliament, into law. The party contends that, while the NHI aims to address healthcare disparities in South Africa, its implementation could pave the way for widespread corruption, akin to the financial misconduct witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The proposal, according to ActionSA, lacks foresight and could jeopardize the healthcare sector by exposing it to large-scale corruption, reminiscent of the billions lost during the PPE and related corruption scandals. The party also highlighted the sacrifices made by whistleblowers, such as Babita Deokaran, who lost her life while exposing corruption during the pandemic.

Citing historical instances of mismanagement in state-controlled entities like Eskom, Transnet, and SASSA, ActionSA argues that entrusting the government with another mammoth healthcare system would likely perpetuate inefficiency and financial mismanagement rather than address healthcare issues. The party contends that South Africa’s primary challenge lies not in funding but in the significant financial losses resulting from corruption and mismanagement.

In alignment with its healthcare policy adopted at the inaugural policy conference in September, ActionSA advocates for a focus on improving the current performance of existing healthcare institutions. The party pledges to prioritize frontline healthcare by investing in training additional doctors and nurses while simultaneously combating corruption in public hospitals.

To enhance access to affordable comprehensive medical insurance, ActionSA proposes a thorough review of the private healthcare insurance industry. The party aims to expand minimum prescribed benefits for private healthcare users and enforce regulations to curb overcharging practices.

In a bold move, ActionSA declares its commitment to holding ministers and parliamentarians accountable for the state of public healthcare by mandating their use of public healthcare facilities. The party believes that firsthand experience will foster a better understanding of the impact of subpar public healthcare services.

ActionSA, positioned as a party dedicated to providing safe and accessible healthcare to all South Africans, pledges unwavering efforts to achieve this goal. The party asserts that the ruling party’s neglect has contributed to the decay in public healthcare systems, and ActionSA is determined to reverse this trend upon assuming governance.