Parliament, Thursday, 25 June 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Health received a briefing today from Dr Kgosi Letlape on public submissions received on the Parliamentary and Provincial Medical Aid Scheme Amendment Bill [B25–2025], a Private Members Bill introduced by him.
Dr Letlape reported that ten submissions were received via email and could be categorised into three and a half groups. He said nine submissions support the Bill, while the tenth is more complex. He said the tenth submission opposes making PARMED voluntary and raises concerns about its sustainability, ultimately advocating for its abolition.
He explained that the first group consisted of submissions expressing general support for the Bill as presented including a submission from a chartered accountant. The second group supported making PARMED voluntary but raised concerns about the burden the Bill places on government.
He told the committee that these submissions emphasised the need for improved public healthcare and argued that members of Parliament and other executive members should utilise the public healthcare system. One submission highlighted ongoing challenges in realising the promises of democracy.
The third group consisted of three submissions advocating for the abolition of PARMED on the grounds that there should not be a separate healthcare system for public officials compared to those who elect them.
Dr Letlape said the fourth submission was more complex and focused on the challenges that would arise from making PARMED voluntary. He said the group argue that principles of solidarity and equity would be undermined, negatively impacting the financial sustainability of the scheme.
The submission recommended repealing the PARMED Act in its current form and be replaced with a compulsory, solidarity‑based, tax‑funded scheme, integrated and aligned with the National Health Insurance Act of 2023 and Section 27 of the Constitution.
While concerns over sustainability were raised, Dr Letlape said that none of the submissions addressed affordability. He said that issue would be discussed at a later stage when inputs are received from members of Parliament, provincial government, the judiciary and other stakeholders.
Dr Letlape said there is no support for the continuation of PARMED in its current form. Nine submissions advocate for the voluntary aspect, emphasising that even parliamentarians should have the freedom to make their own health decisions. The one complex proposal suggests that making PARMED voluntary could jeopardise its sustainability, ultimately calling for its abolition and a shift to a solidarity‑based, tax‑funded scheme aligned with the Constitution.
Responding to members of the committee who questioned the process followed in soliciting the submissions and the appropriate committee to consider the Bill, Dr Letlape explained that once a Bill is published in the Government Gazette, public participation follows in terms of the law. He said public comments reach Parliament through a parliamentary committee.
He further clarified that, following recent amendments, PARMED now falls under the Medical Schemes Act, which is overseen by the Minister of Health, making the Portfolio Committee on Health the appropriate committee to consider the Bill.
In welcoming the briefing, the Chairperson of the committee, Ms Faith Muthambi, said the briefing followed a decision taken at a previous meeting that the public submission received from Dr Letlape should be formally presented to the committee. “We are here today because, in our previous meeting, we agreed that the public submission received from Dr Letlape regarding the Parliamentary and Provincial Medical Aid Scheme Bill should be formally presented to the Committee,” said Ms Muthambi.
Ms Muthambi said submissions such as these are crucial as they provide important insights to assist us in considering the Bill. Today’s briefing offers an opportunity for members to hear the views, concerns and recommendations submitted by interested parties regarding the proposed legislation,” she said.
She further indicated that the engagement would inform the committee’s consideration of the Bill and guide subsequent processes, including decisions on a broader public participation programme.
“As mentioned previously, the committee will determine its approach to a broader public participation process, including engagement with key stakeholders such as Parliament, provincial legislatures, the judiciary and PARMED itself. The inputs received through these various processes will be vital in guiding the committee before we proceed to the next procedural stage regarding the Bill,” she said.
Giving guidance on the way forward Ms Muthambi indicated that relevant government bodies, including the Department of Health and the Council for Medical Schemes, as well as Parliament, provincial legislatures, the judiciary and political parties, should be invited to respond or to raise objections.
She said that will enable the committee to progress to the next step. She said: “We will first conduct a desirability vote, and if we vote in favour, the Bill will be subjected in a public participation process. She added that allowing political parties time to consult internally and gathering input from all stakeholders in the value chain would strengthen the committee’s work before proceeding to the next stage of the Bill.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MS FAITH MUTHAMBI.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the Committee’s Media Officer:
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