CAPE TOWN, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed on Thursday to pursue universal healthcare insurance for all South Africans despite growing criticism.

The National Healthcare Insurance (NHI) bill, submitted to Parliament by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize earlier this month, would offer South Africans the opportunity to fundamentally transform the healthcare system in the country, Ramaphosa said at a Q&A session in Parliament.

"It is for this reason that we are perusing an ambitious program to address the problems in our health system alongside the introduction of the NHI," the president said in response to a question about whether the country is ready to implement the NHI.

This universal healthcare policy was not unique to South Africa and was supported by other countries in the G20, said Ramaphosa.

He said other G20 countries are working towards universal healthcare insurance and South Africa is also on track.

The NHI bill envisages a package of comprehensive health services for free at private and public health facilities as part of the government's bid to provide more equitable access to quality healthcare.

The landmark bill will benefit all South African citizens, permanent residents, refugees, inmates, designated foreign nationals and all children.

But critics say the financing model of this bill will mean the imposition of a new tax on ordinary South Africans who have already been squeezed dry by the government and cannot be subjected to yet another tax.

Several political parties and numerous bodies, including the South African Private Practitioners' Forum, voiced scepticism about the bill, calling it unrealistic, too expensive, and would potentially damage the healthcare sector, particularly when the country is facing a financial crisis.

Critics argue that the bill seeks to fundamentally alter healthcare policy in South Africa by creating a state-owned entity to consolidate all funds within the public and private health system, thus resulting in billions of rand being placed in the hands of the politically connected and giving the health minister unvetted powers and in control of the entire health system.

Moreover, the bill completely centralizes the provision of healthcare by placing the management of all central hospitals under the national health department, which would ultimately lead to the nationalization of healthcare, according to critics.

Earlier, Ramaphosa refuted growing criticism against the NHI which he said is the future of the South Africa healthcare sector "whether people like it or not.

Also on Thursday, the South African cabinet said it would implement the NHI "in a phased and responsible manner."

An implementation plan will be developed and published once the bill is passed into law, the cabinet said after a fortnightly meeting in Cape Town.

Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Health said last week that it was seeking urgent legal advice from the Office of the State Attorney on the constitutionality of the NHI bill.

Before starting deliberating the bill, it will be important to address concerns raised by various people, including those who think they will find space to challenge the constitutionality of the bill, Committee Chairperson Sibongiseni Dhlomo said. Enditem

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