A new South Africa health law aims at deep inequality, but critics say they’ll challenge it [Video]

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa shows the signed bill for National Health Insurance signed into law in Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. The bill directs the transformation of the South Africa’s health care system to achieve universal coverage for health services and, through this, overcome critical socio-economic imbalances and inequities of the past. (AP Photo/The,ba Hadebe)

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday signed into law a bill that aims to overhaul the healthcare system to address deep inequality, but it faces legal challenges from critics.

The law introduces what is known as National Health Insurance, which will provide funds for all South Africans to access private healthcare. Currently, 80% of the population relies on strained state-run public health services while about 16% has access to private healthcare through medical aid plans.

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