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South Africa Debates Bill to Provide Universal Health Care

Anita Powell

   PRETORIA - South Africa's parliament debates the National Health
   Insurance bill this month, a plan for universal health care that
   proponents said will bring justice and equality to the health care
   system in this deeply unequal country.

   But critics say the plan is too ambitious, and they doubt the
   government, which repeatedly has been accused of corruption in other
   public-sector projects, can do it honestly.

   According to the government, only 15 percent of South Africans have
   health insurance. The rest fallto the nation's overburdened public
   health care system.

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