The ANC supports the policy proposal put forward by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to use money allocated for tax rebates to South Africans on medical aid to fund National Health Insurance (NHI), it confirmed on Monday. Naledi Pandor, chairwoman of the subcommittee on education, health, science and technology of the ANC national executive committee, made the pronouncement following the governing party’s policy conference last week. Pandor said that the medical aid tax rebates amounted to about R20bn. The NHI white paper has been contested by the private sector, which contends that it is vague on implementation. The white paper makes far-reaching proposals, which signal that sweeping changes are on the cards to medical scheme benefits enjoyed by employees of the state. Pandor said there was consensus NHI should remain a government priority. To this end, the ANC had to ensure that the legislative framework for the NHI scheme be finalised by the end of the current term, she said. "In...

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