The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape stated on Tuesday that it will argue for further hearings on the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill so that people in the province have further opportunity to make public their feelings on the legislation.

The NHI Bill envisions a radical overhaul to the South African healthcare system.

The NHI Bill is currently under consideration by the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, which is charged with providing a Negotiating Mandate for consideration in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

The NCOP has the power to reject or modify the Bill, meaning that the Western Cape’s input has a critical role to play in shaping the legislation.

“Whether one does or does not support the NHI Bill, it is clear that further hearings are necessary if we are to ensure that proper attention and care is given to this legislative process. Our residents deserve the opportunity to make their voices heard, and I will engage with parliamentary staff to plan more public hearings in areas of the Western Cape which have yet to be covered,” said DA Western Cape spokesperson on Health Gerrit Pretorius.

He argues that under the proposed system, private healthcare would be all but eliminated, and South Africans would be obligated to seek healthcare at a facility of the State’s choice.

The Bill also envisions the creation of a single, government-administered fund to pay for South Africa’s healthcare needs – a proposition which Pretorius says engenders the possibility of massive, unprecedented corruption.

Last week, the Western Cape Provincial Parliament completed the final of seven well-attended public hearings throughout the Western Cape.

Pretorius noted that while some members of the public stood in support of the Bill, several raised questions regarding the workability and funding of the proposed legislation.

“In addition to this, several attendees stated that they had had to travel vast distances at great personal expense and inconvenience to attend the hearings, and expressed their concern that others may not have had the time or resources to do so,” he said.

He argued that every effort should be made to ensure that every resident of the province is afforded their constitutionally protected right to have their voice heard.

“This is especially true in the case of legislation such as the NHI Bill, which has triggered much public debate, and has the potential to massively impact the future of South Africa’s healthcare system and financial stability,” Pretorius added.