The National Health Insurance policy: What's in it for women's health in South Africa?

Abstract

abstract Several countries in Latin America and Asia have covered their populations by a national health insurance (NHI). In 2007, the South African government renewed its commitment to implement an NHI as part of its health reform plans. In August 2011, the government released a Policy Paper (Green Paper) on the NHI. Against this backdrop, this Article argues that the adoption of an NHI could serve as one of the building blocks to achieving the highest attainable standard of health for women. The Article also clarifies what national health insurance is. It further examines the proposed NHI through the normative features of the right to the highest attainable standard of health. In doing this, the Article discusses the Policy Paper with the purpose of analysing its utility for improving women's health in South Africa. It concludes, inter alia, that the establishment of an NHI could represent a step towards realising women's rights to health, depending on the way that it structures and organises care in South Africa's health system.