Healthcare Coalition Pushes For Alternative Reforms To Tackle Crisis

A major group of healthcare professionals has proposed a set of alternative reforms to address South Africas healthcare crisis, challenging the feasibility of the National Health Insurance NHI plan, Cape town Etc reports.

The Universal Healthcare Access Coalition UHAC, representing 18 medical associations, claims its proposals would offer a more rapid and cost-effective solution than the NHI, which they describe as unworkable and likely to fail.

UHAC argues that while the NHI could take over a decade to implement and lacks clear funding, its own reforms could bring significant improvements within three to five years.

Key members of the coalition, including the South African Medical Association and the Progressive Health Forum, emphasise a balanced approach that blends tax funding with contributory insurance to create universal healthcare access.

The proposal suggests a dual system: healthcare for the impoverished would remain free and tax-funded, while higher-income groups would contribute through mandatory insurance.