DURBAN - The National Health Insurance (NHI) has sparked intense debate once again, this time over how it will be funded.
With government proposals suggesting a possible 0.5 percent increase in VAT to support the NHI, many in the medical fraternity and broader civil society have raised serious concerns.
Among them is the South African Medical Association.
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The chairperson of Sama Mvuyisi Mzukwa says VAT is an inherently blunt instrument. It applies equally everyone regardless of their income.
While the association supports the goal of universal health coverage a tax that impacts low-income households is both economically regressive and socially unjust.