“The second Presidential Health Compact, recently signed by the government alongside limited health sector stakeholders, claims to be a framework for cooperation to achieve positive healthcare outcomes. However, concerns are mounting that it serves primarily to push the legally contested and potentially unconstitutional National Health Insurance (NHI) Act,” wrote Katlego Mothudi,MD of the Board of Healthcare Funders in Business Day (3 September 2024).
“While the 2019 compact encouraged public-private partnerships to bolster healthcare systems, the second compact is seen as a tool to support the NHI Act, which aims to centralise healthcare.
“The BHF advocates for a multi-payer model that allows the private sector to coexist with public healthcare services. The BHF’s stance is not against universal health coverage but emphasises that NHI and medical schemes should coexist to serve the people of South Africa better.”