Business Times writes that court challenges to the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill are likely to go ahead despite the formation of a new government, according to an industry body representing medical aid funds.

The Health Funders Association (HFA) held a scenario planning symposium this week where stakeholders looked at possible outcomes for the NHI after the formation of the government of national unity (GNU). President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the NHI Bill on the eve of the elections, sparking uproar from the private healthcare sector and broader business. Critics have slammed the bill as unworkable and unaffordable in its current format. Now, with the ANC having to rely on other parties to form a government, questions have been raised over whether the NHI legislation could be affected. The ANC and GOOD have supported the current bill, but DA party leader John Steenhuisen vowed to fight it all the way to the Constitutional Court. The IFP has also rejected the bill, referring to it as “a recipe for disaster”. Elsabe Klinck, MD at Klinck and Associates, said while the new arrangement in government could lead to a negotiated settlement, the legal route seemed more effective as there would be a binding ruling from the courts. “People won't necessarily abandon their legal challenges, because it gives a court order framework that you can go to parliament with,” Klinck pointed out. At least six organisations are preparing to challenge the bill in court, including trade union Solidarity, the HFA, the SA Medical Association, the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF), the SA Health Professionals Collaboration and the DA.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Gloria Motsoere at Business Times (subscriber access only)

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