Abstract

This article aims to advance a hybrid model for integrating traditional healers into South Africa's private health insurance system, framing inclusion as both an ethical obligation and a strategic reform. Anchored in the National Health Insurance Act 13 of 2023 and informed by international precedents from Ghana and Vietnam, the model proposes regulatory councils, capitation-based reimbursement pilots, digital claims platforms and structured cross-training between traditional and biomedical practitioners. This analysis draws on cultural competency, epistemic justice and health systems strengthening frameworks, positioning traditional healers as de facto primary care providers who can alleviate strain on the public sector while addressing entrenched racial and geographic inequities in healthcare access. Although upfront costs for infrastructure and harmonisation may be significant, potential long-term returns in efficiency, care quality and community trust provide a compelling justification. This model contributes to wider debates on culturally inclusive universal health coverage by offering actionable strategies for aligning traditional healing practices with private-sector financing in pluralistic healthcare systems.