Page 17 - SAMRC Annual Performance Plan 2026-27

build a strong and adequate capacity of health care to quality health care services in the Republic in
workers and that they be deployed where they are accordance with section 27 of the Constitution; to
most needed. The plan recognizes the importance establish a National Health Insurance Fund and to set
of the entire national health system and improving out its powers, functions and governance structures;
governance and eliminating infrastructure backlogs. to provide a framework for the strategic purchasing
Relevant to National Health Insurance Act No. 20 of of health care services by the Fund on behalf of users;
2023 that the South African President signed into law to create mechanisms for the equitable, effective
in 2024, the plan already mentioned that a national and efficient utilisation of the resources of the Fund
health insurance system needed to be implemented to meet the health needs of the population; to
in phases, complemented by a reduction in the preclude or limit undesirable, unethical and unlawful
relative cost of private medical care and supported practices in relation to the Fund and its users; and to
by better human capacity and systems in the public provide for matters connected herewith” .
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health sector.
To educate people about National Health Insurance,
The plan sets the following goals to which the SAMRC created a Universal Health Coverage/
SAMRC can directly contribute through its research National Health Insurance (UHC/NHI) Forum
programmes, units and platforms: which is an open meeting for those interested in
developments, learning and plans related to the
a) Progressively improve tuberculosis prevention
and cure UHC and NHI in South Africa and globally. The
seminar focuses on providing an update on the
b) Reducing maternal, infant and child mortality
policy and legislative progress made in moving
c) Significantly reducing prevalence of towards UHC through the phased implementation
non-communicable diseases of NHI, using a progressive and pragmatic approach
d) Combating corruption as evidenced by the based on availability of financial resources.
sustained good governance and clean audit
outcomes over the past strategic planning 4.3 Alignment to Medium-Term
period and beyond Development Plan (MTDP) 2024-
e) Improving education, training and innovation 2029
through the SAMRC’s dedicated innovation In 2024, South Africa celebrated 30 years
and capacity development performance of democracy and introduction of the 7th
programmes in the SAMRC Strategic Plan Administration. The Medium-Term Development
(2025 to 2030) and the corresponding Annual Plan (MTDP) 2024-2029, formerly known as the
Performance Plans Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF),
f) In transforming society, SAMRC has put coincides with the five-year electoral cycle and is
transformation at the top of the agenda by set out to strategically guide the work of the 7th
appointing an Executive Director responsible Administration to achieve the goals included in the
for transformation Statement of Intent of the Government of National
Unity (GNU) and the National Development Plan
4.2 National Health Insurance Act of (NDP). In line with the NDP 2030, MTDP 2024-2029
2023 identifies the following three strategic priority
National Health Insurance Act No. 20 of 2023 was areas, and the SAMRC has aligned its Strategic Plan
signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in and Annual Performance Plan to these priorities as
May 2024 and its aim is “to achieve universal access outlined in table 5 below:

1 https://www.parliament.gov.za/storage/app/media/Acts/2023/Act_20_of_2023_National_Health_Insurance.pdf

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