10 Sep 2026

Some Selebi Phikwe residents have welcomed the proposed National Health Insurance policy, saying if implemented, it will make a significant step toward equitable healthcare access.

Government, through the proposed National Health Insurance policy, seeks to ensure universal access to quality, affordable and equitable healthcare.

Consequently, a team is on a countrywide consultation soliciting the nation’s feedback on the proposed policy.

One of Selebi Phikwe residents, said during a consultative kgotla meeting recently that the policy would strengthen the country’s commitment to ensuring that healthcare services reached all citizens.

Therefore, Ms Magdeline Botlhe commended government for consulting the nation on the proposed policy.

Another resident, Mr Moses Moarogi, welcomed the proposed NHI policy but said its implementation should go hand in hand with improvements to public health facilities, increased availability of medicines and adequate staffing.

Ms Kaone Itseng, also a Selebi Phikwe resident viewed the consultation as a positive step toward inclusive governance, particularly because healthcare was a fundamental service affecting people across different social and economic backgrounds.

Addressing the residents, Senior Health Officer for Policy, Planning and Financing at the Ministry of Health, Ms Thamiso Sebolao, said the proposed policy sought to establish a more inclusive and sustainable healthcare financing system that would enable citizens to access essential health services without facing excessive financial hardship.

Ms Sebolao said the proposed policy would also seek to improve the availability and quality of healthcare services while promoting greater equity in the distribution of health resources.

She said the policy would provide a framework for sharing healthcare costs, thereby reducing the extent to which individuals had to meet medical expenses directly from their pockets.

On their countrywide consultations, she said the move was aimed at gathering public views on the proposed policy before its implementation.

She said the engagements would help communities understand how the proposed system was expected to work, while also giving them an opportunity to raise concerns and make recommendations.

“Public participation remains an important component of the policy development process, as feedback from communities can help government identify potential challenges and ensure that the policy reflects the needs of the people,” she said. ENDS