HSRC to host a webinar on NHI and Universal Health Coverage

Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

Press Release

Pretoria, Monday, 2 March 2026 — The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) invites members of the media to a webinar on South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI) and the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The webinar will be held on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, from 10h00 to 13h00.

The webinar aims to provide a platform for dialogue and critical engagement on the NHI proposals, progress to date, successes, key implementation challenges, and areas requiring further research.

The objectives of the seminar include:

• To provide an overview of the NHI proposals and legislative framework.

• To review current progress in the implementation of NHI reforms.

• To identify and discuss challenges to implementation.

• To highlight areas for further research to strengthen NHI policy and practice.

Speakers will include Prof Nicholas Crisp, Deputy Director-General: NHI, National Department of Health (NDoH); Prof Charles Hongoro, Senior Research Director: Office of the CEO, HSRC; and Dr Ogochukwu Chukwujekwu, Team Lead: Health Financing and Governance Unit/Health Systems and Services.

The webinar, which forms part of the HSRC’s health innovation and policy research hub, will bring together policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and civil society stakeholders to foster collaboration, enhance understanding, and generate actionable insights to advance the roll-out of the NHI.

End.

Details of the event

Date: 03 March 2026

Time: 10h00–13h00

Venue: Online Event

Link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/yWh3lNyySGmZSqY-WHhXhw#/registration

For media enquiries, please contact Adziliwi Nematandani: Cell: +27 82 765 9191 Email: anematandani@hsrc.ac.za

Join the Conversation:

#NHI #NationalHealthInsurance #UHC #UniversalHealthCoverage

Notes to the editor

About the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

The HSRC was established in 1968 as South Africa’s statutory research agency and has grown to become the largest dedicated research institute in the social sciences and humanities on the African continent, doing cutting-edge public research in areas that are crucial to development.

Our mandate is to inform the effective formulation and monitoring of government policy; to evaluate policy implementation; to stimulate public debate through the effective dissemination of research-based data and fact-based research results; to foster research collaboration; and to help build research capacity and infrastructure for the human sciences.

The Council conducts large-scale, policy-relevant, social-scientific research for public sector users, non-governmental organisations and international development agencies. Its research activities and structures are closely aligned with South Africa’s national development priorities.

Join the conversation at:

www.hsrc.ac.za