The role of the Minister of Health in the National Health Insurance Bill: Challenges and options for the Portfolio Committee on Health.

The Portfolio Committee on Health (PCH) is responsible for obtaining public input on the National Health Insurance Bill, reviewing the Bill based on these inputs, and presenting the final Bill to the National Assembly. More than 130 individuals, organisations and institutions requested to make oral presentations, which commenced on 18 May 2021. Drawing on Parliamentary Monitoring Group meeting summaries and the presentations and submissions made by 82 respondents between 18 May and 10 September 2021, we examine governance concerns, especially in relation to the role and powers of the Minister of Health, and respondents' proposals for addressing them, and outline the challenges and options for the PCH in responding to the proposals.

The Competition Commission Health Market Inquiry Report: An overview and key imperatives.

The Competition Commission's Health Market Inquiry (HMI) is the most systematic and comprehensive investigation carried out into the South African private health sector. The recommendations as set out in the HMI Final Report merit extensive discussion and debate, as they could - if implemented - have far-reaching consequences for the future of the healthcare system. The objective of this article is to contribute to this discussion by providing an overview of the key findings and recommendations of the HMI and highlighting the resultant key imperatives at this critical juncture of policy development.