President Ramaphosa to meet global leaders The Elders

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 3 September 2019, hold discussions with The Elders, an eminent group of global human rights and peace campaigners and former heads of government first convened by President Nelson Mandela, on South Africa’s introduction of National   Health Insurance (NHI) as part of achieving universal health coverage.

The Deputy Chair of the Elders, Graca Machel, Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and Director-General of the World Health Organization, and Ricardo Lagos, former President of Chile, will visit South Africa as part of their now three-year-old global campaign in support of  universal health care.

The World Health Organisation defines universal health care as meaning all people and communities can use the promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need, of sufficient quality to be effective. At the same time, the use of these services should not expose users to financial hardship.

The Elders was founded by the late Former President Nelson Mandela in 2007 and have since 2016 visited countries including Tanzania, Indonesia, India and the United States to advance their belief that publicly-funded health care is the best way to meet the United Nations’ overall Sustainable Development Goal on health, and particularly to improve the health outcomes of women, girls and adolescents.

The Elders are due to meet with Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, and to engage with stakeholders, government leaders, health sector leaders and civil society in an effort to understand South Africa’s journey to Universal Health Coverage in relation to the introduction of National Health Insurance (NHI).

Parliament is currently engaged in public consultation on the National Health Insurance Bill which envisages access to health care based on values of justice, fairness and social solidarity.

On 3 September the delegation will meet the Portfolio Committee on Health at Parliament and will have discussions with President Ramaphosa on how best South Africa can introduce health reforms that will lead to universal health coverage.
The Elders will address media following their engagement with the President.

Members of the media are invited to the media briefing as follows:
Time: 13h30 for 14h15
Venue:Media Centre, Tuynhuys, Cape Town

Media RSVPs:Nangamso Gxaba on Nangamso@presidency.gov.za or 072 321 6355


Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President – 072 854 5707
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria