The Sunday Independent reports that the public hearings into the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme are reaching the last leg.  

With the NHI expected to receive some funding when the national budget is tabled later this month, there has already been some work done in pilot sites in various provinces.  But according to opposition parties, the pilot sites have not achieved much or been effective in delivering deliver services.  One of the tasks of government will be to refurbish infrastructure in preparation for the implementation of universal health coverage.  But the cost of NHI remains a sticking point, with opposition parties projecting that it will run into tens of billions of rands.  The government has indicated that the actual cost has not yet been determined.  Members of the public have attended a number of hearings in various provinces.  In finalising the relevant legislation, government has said it would consider the comments made in the public hearings.

• Read the original of the above report at Independent News

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