National Health Insurance: ConCourt Ruling Sparks Policy Rethink

Original Article by Editorial | Financial Mail | 28 May 2026

The Constitutional Court's decision against National Health Insurance opens new avenues for healthcare reform in South Africa.

The Constitutional Court’s decision against National Health Insurance opens new avenues for healthcare reform in South Africa.

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Dr Thembisile Xulu is the new health Director-General, inheriting a strained department, healthcare-worker shortages and NHI litigation.

Gauteng is losing 100 nurses a month and needs R5.7bn to fill a 16,000-post gap. This shortage now flagged as a key risk to the NHI rollout.

Regulation, not demand, blocks affordable cover: medical schemes should be allowed to offer low-cost benefit options (LCBOs) now.