Parliament, Sunday, 26 January 2020 – The Portfolio Committee on Health will from tomorrow hold public hearings on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill in the Free State Province. This is the continuation of the nationwide public participation process to ensure that the Bill is strengthened and reflective of the views of South Africans from all sectors of the society.
The NHI Bill is intended to achieve universal access to healthcare services in South Africa which is a constitutional right. The NHI is a financing system that will ensure that the citizens of South Africa are provided with essential healthcare services regardless of social standing.
Towards the end of last year (2019), the committee committed itself to starting the hearings early this year. “Public Participation is one of the constitutional imperatives and the cornerstone of South Africa’s democratic dispensation. The committee made a commitment of creating a platform for all interested parties across the country to express their views on the Bill, and these hearings are a realisation of that commitment,” said Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, the Chairperson of the committee.
To ensure that all the interested South Africans are afforded an opportunity to participate, the committee will hold the hearings in the late afternoon. The committee invites all the interested parties in the Free State Province to attend the hearings and make their contributions on the Bill.
Details of the hearings (Mangaung)
Date: 27 January 2020
Time: 16:30
Venue: Kagisanong Community Hall, Rocklands (Bloemfontein)
Details of the Hearings (Sasolburg)
Date: 29 January 2020
Time: 16:30
Venue: Harry Gwala Multi-purpose Centre, Zamdela (Sasolburg)
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: Malatswa Molepo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 081 512 7920
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
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