BusinessLive reports that Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and his department are on a collision course with Cosatu over the National Health Insurance (NHI), ahead of the governing ANC’s critical national policy conference in July.
While the department sees a role for the private sector in the implementation of the NHI, which aims to introduce a single fund that purchases healthcare services for all South Africans that are free at the point of delivery, Cosatu is adamant the private sector should be excluded. Cosatu, with 1.8-million members, is SA’s biggest labour group and a member of the governing alliance. It is demanding a single fund. Cosatu recently used its political muscle to force the government into delaying its plans for provident fund reforms and won concessions on the national minimum wage.
- Read this report by Tamar Kahn in full at BusinessLive (paywall access)
- See too, Cosatu furious over NHI being SA’s version of Obamacare, at BusinessLive
- And also, Motsoaledi deflects attack by Cosatu on NHI, at eNCA
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page