South Africa’s path towards universal health care took a major leap forward this week when the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) voted in favour of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill. Earlier this year, Parliament passed the Bill. While many have praised the efforts of the government to get the Bill moving and eventually enacted, proponents of the Bill are gearing for a massive fight. AfriForum said it was ready to wage its “fiercest battle yet” against the Bill while the Western Cape government – the only province that did not back the Bill – has called for the NHI Bill to be sent back to the National Assembly for more consideration. Provincial health MEC, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, said that the process had been blemished by insufficient consultation…..more