Most South Africans are opposed to the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.

This insight comes from a survey of 1 835 registered South African voters conducted by the Social Research Foundation in April 2024.

In that survey two statements were put to participants and they needed to decide which they agreed with more.

The statements were: “A future coalition government runs a two-tier healthcare system, in which people can decide for themselves who they purchase their own health insurance from and where they get medical treatment.”

OR

“A future coalition government nationalises private medical aid funds and hospital groups so that only the government can provide medical services.”

Participants could agree with the first or second statement either somewhat or strongly.

Amongst all registered voters 57% agreed with the first statement somewhat or strongly and 43% agreed with the second statement somewhat or strongly.

When broken down by highest level of education 36% of voters with an education level between Grade R to Grade 7 qualification agreed with the first statement somewhat or strongly, whereas 58% of voters with a Grade R to Grade 7 qualification agreed with the second statement somewhat or strongly.

Amongst voters with a qualification of between Grade 8 to Grade 11 some 54% agreed with the first statement somewhat or strongly and 46% agreed with the second statement somewhat or strongly.

Amongst voters with at least a Matric qualification 51% agreed with the first statement somewhat or strongly and 45% agreed with the second statement somewhat or strongly.

Amongst voters with at least one university degree 90% agreed with the first statement somewhat or strongly and 9% agreed with the second statement somewhat or strongly.