Pretoria: The National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders (NHTKL) has announced its full endorsement of the National Health Insurance (NHI) initiative. The leaders expressed their support for Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi and his department’s endeavors to make quality healthcare accessible to all citizens, regardless of their economic status.

According to South African Government News Agency, the NHTKL praised the efforts to redirect funds from private healthcare facilities to public ones, allowing for the acquisition of more lifesaving equipment, hiring of additional medical staff, and construction of new facilities. These actions aim to alleviate the current pressure on public health systems. This statement followed a two-day meeting with government officials, headed by Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa, which concluded on Sunday.

During the meeting, Dr. Motsoaledi presented the benefits of universal health access provided by the NHI to the broader
population. The NHTKL acknowledged South Africa’s status as a highly unequal society and emphasized its commitment to progressive legislative measures like the NHI. Representing 886 traditional leaders who govern over 25 million South Africans in traditional communities, the House declared itself “unapologetically pro-people.”

The presentation by Dr. Motsoaledi addressed the challenges facing the health sector, contextualized by international standards and best practices. The House recognized issues such as corruption but stressed that providing quality healthcare to the masses would remain unattainable if more than half of the resources were allocated to only a small fraction of the population. The NHTKL described these statistics as “disturbing.”

Furthermore, the NHTKL criticized the current medical aid system, highlighting its focus on commercial gain and profit maximization rather than providing accessible medical care. The House emphasized that universal healthcare access is a fundamental right, and th
e existing system must be challenged.

The NHTKL addressed misconceptions about the NHI, particularly concerns over South Africa’s ability to afford its implementation. They argued that the real question should be whether the country can afford not to implement the NHI, given the disadvantages faced by the majority under the current system.