Parliament, Sunday, 27 October 2019 – The Portfolio Committee on Health continued with public hearings on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality on Saturday, where the people came out in large numbers to make their voices heard on what should happen regarding the Bill.

The Chairperson of the committee, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, introduced the Bill to the residents of Bushbuckridge highlighting its overview, what it entails and its objective.

In welcoming the Bill, the people of Bushbuckridge told the committee that health is a constitutional right and they hoped that they will receive equal health services. Furthermore, they said, the Bill will address the imbalances of the past, and young and old people should benefit in the same way.

In their oral submissions, the people of Bushbuckridge urged the committee to accelerate the NHI Bill process as it will create employment opportunities for the young people in the historically disadvantaged communities. They said the government must go an extra mile for health care as it recently did to save Eskom and the South African Airways.

The people told the committee that primary healthcare will be the pillar of the NHI Bill, and will minimise the problems that are in the health sector. The health infrastructure challenges and the poor state of service delivery in the healthcare facilities were highlighted by the people in their oral submissions.

The objective of the Bill is to achieve universal access to quality health care services in South Africa in accordance with section 27 of the Constitution.

The committee called for written submissions from the public on the Bill at the beginning of September 2019, and the closing date for submissions is 29 November 2019.

The hearings will continue today, 27 October 2019 in Thembisile Local Municipality at the Kwaggafontein Community Hall at 10:00am

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, DR SIBONGISENI DHLOMO.

For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:

Name: Ms Yoliswa Landu
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8203 
Cell: 081 497 4694
E-mail: ylandu@parliament.gov.za