Pretoria - Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has appointed a committee that will advise him on the development of policy, legislation and the implementation of the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI).
The 25 members of the Ministerial Advisory Committee will advise the Minister on aspects of the NHI policy to enrich the process on policy and legislation development and the implementation plan for the NHI system.
The broad objective of the NHI is to put in place the necessary funding and health service delivery mechanisms, which will enable the creation of an efficient, equitable and sustainable health system in South Africa based on the principles of the right to health, social solidarity and universal coverage.
"The advisory committee will listen to the comments made by the public on the White Paper on NHI and will advise the ministry on what to include in the final NHI implementation plan," Motsoaledi explained on Thursday.
He said the draft White Paper on the NHI will be released for public comment in due course.
The advisory committee is made up of individuals with a cross-section of skills and expertise relevant to the NHI policy.
Dr Olive Shisana, Chief Executive Officer of the Human Science Research Council, who previously chaired the ANC Technical Task Team on the NHI, has been appointed to chair the advisory committee.