Page 1 - Advancing Life - January 2025

Issue 4 | January 2025
WHY IS NHI
IMPORTANT?
In the rest of the world, it is called
Universal Health Care (UHC) and in
South African we call it National Health
Insurance or NHI, which is a health
financing system that aims to provide
access to quality affordable personal
health services for all South Africans
health needs. NHI will create one public
health fund to effectively meet the
needs of the entire population. Access
to healthcare is a human right and we
need healthcare that is fair and equal.
It is important because most people in
South Africa still cannot easily get the
care they need. By changing the way
our country pays for healthcare, NHI
will improve access to services for the
majority of people.
Photo above: The Honourable Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla and SAMRC President and CEO, Prof Ntobeko Ntusi
Making
Healthcare
truly Universal
The SAMRC has long been at the forefront of health research
and innovation, driven by its unwavering vision to improve the
health of our population. As the healthcare research arm of
the South African government, the SAMRC has a critical role
to play in leading research and innovation and is uniquely
positioned to lead in this endeavour of making healthcare
universal.
Some of the activities that the SAMRC has been involved to make this a reality includes, the
SAMRC President and CEO Prof Ntobeko Ntusi hosting the Honourable Deputy Minister of Health
Dr Joe Phaahla to discuss how our organisation can contribute to making the implementation of
National Health Insurance (NHI) a success. Also, with the hosting of the Health Systems Research
Symposium, which brought together local and international experts from academia, government
and civil society to discuss the challenges and examine case studies for what is working now to
improve health coverage.
Prof Ntusi said “As we look to the future, addressing the determinants of health will require a
holistic approach. Our research must reflect the behavioural, biological and socio-cultural drivers
of disease. It is critical that we employ a multisectoral approach that allows for better integration
and sustainability of health research, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes for all
South Africans. We must ask the right questions and produce data and evidence that supports
government, civil society and academia. As the SAMRC, our commitment to justice, dignity, and
equitable health services for all our citizens remains unwavering.”