On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa will officiate the signing of the second Presidential Health Compact, despite criticism and an objection lodged by Business Unity South Africa (Busa).

The event, which was initially scheduled to take place on August 15, follows the 2023 Presidential Health Summit, which was built on the 2018 inaugural summit that brought together a range of invested parties to develop sustainable and inclusive solutions to challenges in the national health system.

Last week, Busa CEO Cas Coovadia said the organisation could not support a policy that explicitly endorsed the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act in its current form, noting that it had written to the Ramaphosa to express its concern.

Coovadia said the draft of the Compact that was shared with Busa promoted the NHI in its current form as the foundation underpinning healthcare reform. 

He noted serious differences between business and government as to the appropriateness of the NHI Act.

“…let alone its feasibility as a legislative instrument to underpin universal health coverage,” he said.

The Presidency said on Tuesday that the stakeholders involved in the Presidential Health Compact are integral to supporting the Department of Health in improving the country’s health system.

“[The Compact] has a monitoring and evaluation component where roles and responsibilities are assigned to a broad range of stakeholders to support health systems strengthening and preparation for the implementation of the National Health Insurance,” the Presidency explained.

The signing will take place at the Union Buildings and will include signatories such as the Independent Community Pharmacy Association, the South African National AIDS Council, the South African Medical Association Trade Union, the Democratic Nurses of South Africa, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, Campaigning for Cancer, the South African Medical Research Council, the South African Pharmacy Council and the National Unitary Professional Association for African Traditional Health Practitioners of South Africa.