The National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill has finally been approved by Cabinet for tabling in Parliament. Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Jackson Mthembu yesterday said the Cabinet had approved the Bill for release for public consultation from June to September last year, and the input following that process has now been incorporated in the latest version of the Bill. The Bill was mired in controversy towards the end of 2018, after a leaked Treasury letter exposed an alleged attempt by Ramaphosa's adviser, Olive Shisana, to make sweeping changes to the draft Bill, reports BusinessLIVE. A revised version was rejected by the Cabinet in early December and then again reconsidered in January. The approved Bill will now be subjected to another 'rigorous' parliamentary process, Mthembu said. The proposed legislation will have to be considered by both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, and go through public consultation before it can be implemented. Details of the Bill will be unpacked by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, Mthembu said. Its main aim is to launch an NHI fund that will purchase health services on behalf of patients from public and private-sector providers, which will be free at the point of care.

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