The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has responded to Michael Avery’s recent column titled “Anatomy of a scandal: Bonitas said to have lost Sanlam’s trust” (October 14), which questioned the regulatory body’s oversight and raised concerns about long-standing contracts in the medical scheme industry. Avery’s article insinuated that the CMS has been passive as a regulator. However, the CMS pointed…
Category: Archive
Every Health Matters article, newest first. Use the search or browse by month to find older reporting.
-
NHI poses a significant risk to SA’s economic reform
Francois Gouws, CEO of PSG Financial Services, has expressed concerns about the National Health Insurance (NHI) and its potential impact on South Africa’s economic reform efforts. After the company released its latest financial results, Gouws highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the NHI, which he called “the elephant in the room” for economic reform. Gouws emphasised that the lack of clarity around…
-
SAHPRA calls for Increased National Treasury funding
The SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) is again seeking additional financial support from the National Treasury. Over-reliance on fee income has placed the authority in a precarious position, with CEO Boitumelo Semete stressing the risks involved during a recent presentation to parliament. The authority’s diminishing government grant and industry consolidation threaten its ability to function effectively. SAHPRA, established in…
-
Younger South Africans turning to medical insurance
Medical schemes in South Africa operate on a community-rated system, offering open enrollment where members pay the same contributions regardless of their health status or age. According to the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) 2023/24 annual report, about nine million people belong to 71 registered medical schemes. However, younger South Africans are increasingly turning to medical insurance, which offers lower…
-
Addressing gaps in South Africa’s primary healthcare system
One issue remains clear amid the debate over South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI): Primary healthcare is vital for creating a sustainable and equitable health system. However, achieving this will require significant investment in workforce training, healthcare delivery, and system reform. Primary healthcare (PHC) differs from the traditional medical model in that it focuses on community involvement and addresses the…
-
Rising medical costs: A warning shot for SA consumers
As South Africa’s healthcare costs continue to rise, open medical schemes have announced their contribution increases for 2025. Bestmed, Fedhealth, and Medihelp lead the pack with weighted average increases of 12.75%, 12.4%, and 10.8%, respectively. Other top schemes, such as Bonitas (10.2%), Momentum (9.4%), and Discovery (9.3%), follow closely behind. According to medical scheme administrators, several factors contribute to these…
-
SA leads the world’s largest HIV prevention pill programme
By August 2024, 1.65 million HIV-negative people in South Africa had used the anti-HIV pill at least once, making it the world’s most extensive HIV prevention programme. South Africa saw 150,000 new HIV infections in 2023 and aims to reduce this number to 105,000 by 2025 to meet UNAIDS targets. The oral PrEP pill, registered in 2015, is now free…
-
Six-month HIV prevention injection proven highly effective
New research has confirmed the remarkable effectiveness of a six-monthly HIV prevention injection containing the antiretroviral drug lenacapavir. The latest study, PURPOSE 2, has shown that the injection is highly effective at preventing HIV infection among cisgender men, transgender men, transgender women, and non-binary individuals assigned male at birth. These findings echo results from PURPOSE 1, which demonstrated similar success…
-
The intrigue surrounding Bonitas Medical Fund
Medical schemes are designed as not-for-profits, aiming to serve the interests of their members while adhering to the Medical Schemes Act. This framework ensures fairness, transparency, and the protection of members’ contributions. However, recent revelations regarding Bonitas Medical Fund, South Africa’s second-largest open medical scheme, have raised serious questions about governance and trust. Recent disclosures suggest that some Bonitas trustees…
-
Ensuring health equity in SA’s National Health Insurance
As South Africa’s Department of Health moves forward with the National Health Insurance (NHI) initiative, significant challenges remain, especially from various business interests. We must draw valuable lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure health equity for all. Key themes like market power, transparency, accountability, timely access, and affordability are crucial focus areas. During the pandemic, the prevailing doctrine of…
-
Final report on racial profiling investigation delayed again
The long-awaited final report from the Section 59 Investigation Panel, appointed by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) to probe allegations of racial profiling and discrimination by medical schemes and their administrators, has been delayed once again. The CMS now anticipates the report’s release by the end of the year, following ongoing challenges beyond its control. Initially launched in 2019…
-
Health Minister addresses community service shortfall
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has reassured parliament that the shortfall in community service positions for medical graduates and supplementary healthcare disciplines will be addressed by converting surplus posts in other fields. This step is crucial as community service is mandatory for medical graduates in South Africa, allowing them to register with professional bodies and practice independently. Community Service Shortage for…