# Health minister says NHI ‘will make public and private hospitals the same’

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/2020/01/02/health-minister-says-nhi-will-make-public-and-private-hospitals-the-same/
- Published: 2020-01-02T16:18:46+02:00
- Author: dearSA

![](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20191208/Screenshot-
37-1024x656.png "Screenshot (37)")

## Minister Zweli Mkhize has made a very bold claim to start the year: He predicts that NHI will put private and public hospitals on par with each other.

This probably didn’t come out as the compliment Health Minister Zweli Mkhize was
hoping for. The ANC cabinet member triumphantly announced on Wednesday that there
would be “no distinction” between public and private hospitals once the National
Health Insurance (NHI) is rolled out.

The much-maligned plans would ensure that all citizens received free healthcare 
upon entering any hospital in South Africa. While the intentions are good, the execution
may be lacking.[ Critics have slammed NHI for threatening to cripple private health programmes](https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/da-five-reasons-why-nhi-disastrous-south-africa/),
and point to its enormous costing and logistical challenges.

## ‘We’re going to see improvements’

However, Mkhize and his team remain undeterred. Speaking during a visit to a hospital
in KwaZulu-Natal on New Year’s Day, the minister said that NHI would “bridge the
gap” between public and private care.

> “We are starting a new decade in which we will be instituting decisive actions
> in implementation of NHI. When it is fully implemented, there will be no distinction
> between public and private hospitals. We believe we are going to be seeing changes
> and improvements in the quality.”
> “Our message to South Africans is to encourage good healthy living, particularly
> now when non-communicable diseases are on the rise. Individuals and communities
> are encouraged to take full responsibility of their health in partnership with
> the healthcare.”
> Zweli Mkhize

## When will NHI happen, and how much will it cost?

The rollout of the much-anticipated [National Health Insurance (NHI) will require an additional R33-billion annually](https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/nhi-roll-out-cost-additional-r33-billion).
This was revealed in the National Treasury’s adjusted estimates of the national 
expenditure document released at the tabling of the 2019 Medium Term Budget Policy
Statement (MTBPS) in October.

Furthermore, the controversial plan to nationalise healthcare won’t come into effect
until the 2025/26 financial year. Provinces will receive a direct grant to contract
health professionals in pilot NHI districts. This is currently funded through the
NHI indirect grant.