The ANC NEC’s subcommittee on health supports the policy proposal to use the money allocated to tax rebates to medical aids to fund National health Insurance (NHI).<\/p>\n
This was one of the recommendations reached by the commissions that met at the ANC’s national policy conference last week, and follows the release of the NHI whitepaper that was approved by Cabinet last month.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest points of contention in the NHI scheme is the question of how it will be funded.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the whitepaper’s release, health minister Aaron Motsoaledi said that a number of avenues would be looked at – including the tax rebate policy the ANC is now backing.<\/p>\n
Pre-payment and contribution for the NHI will be mandatory for all citizens.<\/p>\n
Aside from funding being taken from tax credits on medical scheme contributions, mandatory payroll and surcharge taxes, with NHI-specific taxes (pre-payment taxes) are also being considered.<\/p>\n
The NHI whitepaper has been gazetted for public comment, and still needs to go through many processes, including changing legislation where necessary.<\/p>\n
However, Motsoaledi said that many changes – including those relating to funding – will ultimately need to be determined by Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Speaking on NHI policy, the ANC said that it wants to ensure that the programme remains a priority for government, and that the legislative framework be finalised before the end of its current term.<\/p>\n