South Africa signs universal health law despite pushback

Pretoria: South Africa s president Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday signed a new law which aims to provide universal healthcare, two weeks before a genera...

Pretoria: South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday signed a new law which aims to provide universal healthcare, two weeks before a general election and despite pushback from the opposition and business groups.

"The National Health Insurance (NHI) is a commitment to eradicate the stark inequalities that have long determined... who receives adequate healthcare and who suffers from neglect," Ramaphosa said at a televised signing ceremony in Pretoria.

The fund established under the law will provide healthcare for all at rates to be determined by the government. However, it could take years to put the system into practice around the country.

South African MPs approved the controversial new law in June last year after years of debate and consultation.

"The provision of healthcare in this country is currently fragmented, it is unsuitable and it is wholly unacceptable," Ramaphosa said.