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COSATU General Secretary Solly Phetoe is leading a picket in support of Department of Health in NHI at the North Gauteng High court case
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and other organisations have gathered outside the High Court in Pretoria in support of the Health Department on day two of the National Health Insurance (NHI) case. They are there in solidarity with the Health Department.
The Board of Healthcare Funders, representing 40 medical schemes, and the South African Private Practitioners’ Forum are challenging the NHI Act, arguing it is unconstitutional and does not ensure universal quality healthcare.
They say the Act does not guarantee universal access to quality health care and is unconstitutional.
However, COSATU says it is concerned about the current state of inequality in the provision of healthcare services.
The labour federation’s spokesperson Zanele Sabela says the private sector could keep people who have medical aid but receive subsidies from the government.
“So, there are more resources on the other side and little resources on the other side. Talking about the budget, we are looking forward to next week. We have argued against certain measures; we said the government needs to fill the critical vacancies within government, the whole thing about public service and now the whole NHI thing in court is stalling everything and it needs to happen as soon as possible.”
VIDEO | COSATU backs government as the constitutionality of the NHI is tried in the Pretoria High Court
Power outage
A power outage at the Pretoria High Court has forced the adjournment of the NHI case. Some parts of the City of Tshwane have been plagued by power outages for weeks without explanation. It is not clear when court will resume.
