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The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape welcomes the establishment of the Provincial Government’s Think Tank on Universal Health Coverage (UHC). It aims to present a collaborative effort between public and private stakeholders to develop a practical strategy for achieving UHC in the province. By fostering partnerships and innovation, the Think Tank seeks to maximise available resources and expand access to quality healthcare for all.

The Western Cape Government (WCG) previously piloted initiatives focused on achieving UHC and demonstrated improvements in service delivery outcomes. This proved that it is possible to make progress towards achieving universal healthcare without the introduction of the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.

MPP Memory Booysen stated: “I will be inviting the Department of Health and Wellness to present this strategy to the Standing Committee in the Provincial Parliament so we can unpack its objectives, implementation plan, and expected outcomes. It is important that oversight structures fully understand and support this initiative.”

Although the NHI Bill was signed into law last year, it still fails to provide a feasible pathway to achieving universal health coverage. The NHI remains unaffordable given current economic constraints, and the national government has yet to present credible evidence that the system will be workable or sustainable.

As the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape, we will ensure that every resident has access to quality healthcare. Through our oversight role in the Provincial Parliament, we will hold the government accountable for evidence-based, fiscally responsible healthcare solutions that actually work. While we reject the one-size-fits-all approach of the NHI, we will continue to support innovation and collaboration that improve the lives of the people of this province.

Issued by Memory Booysen, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Health & Wellness