According to Ngculu, the bill will not be enacted into law by the present government because finalising the National Health Insurance Bill (NHI) is a priority. The National Health Ammendment Bill will now be in the hands of the next elected government, some time next year.
The Department of Health sees the bill as a way of making healthcare more accessible and affordable, but the majority of the private healthcare industry see the bill as a way for the Minister to dictate prices for doctors and hospitals. The proposed legislation encourages collective bargaining between service providers and funders, with a facilitator appointed for any disputes over tarrifs.
The national health reference price list will be used as the base from which prices will be set. There are reports that the bill would result in a massive increase in an already high rate of emmigration among doctors.
