National Health Act, 2003 (Act No. 61 of 2003)

Notices

National Health Insurance Policy towards Universal Health Coverage

Chapter 7 : Financing of NHI

7.4 Raising Revenue to Finance NHI

7.4.2 Principles

7.4.2.3 Progressivity

Purchase

223.

When the tax payable as a percentage of income remains constant (irrespective of the level of the income), the tax instrument is said to be proportional. When the tax liability as a percentage of income increases as income increases, the tax instrument is said to be progressive, and where this ratio decreases as income increases the tax instrument is said to be regressive. A progressive tax system plays an important role in redistributing resources to facilitate a more equitable society.

224.	When expressing a view on the distributive impact of taxes, it is important to take into account the overall incidence of the entire tax system (or fiscal system, including taxes and expenditure), rather than focus on one tax instrument in isolation.