South Africa’s two biggest industry bodies for medical schemes are urging Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to keep medical tax credits in place and increase their value in the upcoming Budget. They argue the credits are critical to keep private cover affordable for working families, especially as costs rise. The call comes as the health department pushes to phase out medical…
Tag: private healthcare
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NHI Implementation on Hold After Presidential Undertaking
President Cyril Ramaphosa has formally undertaken not to bring any part of South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI) Act into operation until the Constitutional Court has ruled on two challenges focused on public participation. The undertaking was conveyed in a letter dated 20 February from the Office of the State Attorney. It states the president “undertakes not to promulgate any…
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NHI Constitutional Challenge: AfriForum’s Legal Action
Civil society group AfriForum has served a summons on President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. This intensifies its court bid to have the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act declared unconstitutional. The organisation instructed the Sheriff of the Court to deliver a combined summons to five senior state office-bearers. This signals that the fight over NHI is moving…
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Sizwe Hosmed Curator Replacement Ordered By High Court
The medical schemes regulator has won its bid to replace Sizwe Hosmed’s curator. This successful Sizwe Hosmed curator replacement, according to the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), will not disrupt the scheme. It also stressed that Sizwe Hosmed remains fully operational. A High Court order handed down on Wednesday in Pretoria confirmed Ian Fleming as curator with immediate effect. He…
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NHI Public Participation Challenge Reshapes Legislative Focus
\n\nGetty Images for Unsplash\n\n\n\nThe shift matters because it could determine the fate of several parallel cases. The court has signalled that if the public participation challenge succeeds, arguments about the President’s decision to sign may become irrelevant. In practical terms, this means the court may delay the most politically charged question – whether Ramaphosa acted rationally when signing the NHI…
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Mental Health VAT Reform: Cost Trap Deepens Care Gap
South Africans are reporting rising levels of depression and anxiety. Yet access to care is tightening. High out-of-pocket costs and an entrenched shortage of mental health professionals are leaving many people underserved. In particular, those with the greatest need are most affected. A recent advocacy document argues that government VAT rules and medical aid pricing behaviour are actively inflating the…
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Busa Seeks an NHI Meeting with President Ramaphosa
Business Unity South Africa (Busa) has backed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s call to cool tensions around National Health Insurance (NHI). In fact, Busa seeks an NHI Meeting to ensure there is structured engagement with the Presidency in the first quarter of 2026. The aim is to discuss proposals previously submitted to President Cyril Ramaphosa. Busa is the largest umbrella body…
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National Health Insurance Negotiations: SAMA Seeks NHI Talks
South Africa’s largest doctors’ organisation, the South African Medical Association (SAMA), is preparing for fresh talks with Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on the future shape of National Health Insurance (NHI). The move follows a public push by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana for organisations challenging the NHI Act to consider negotiating a settlement, rather than prolonging court battles. SAMA is one…
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NHI Truce Talks: Godongwana Pushes Settlement On NHI
South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI) debate may finally be shifting from courtroom combat to negotiation. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has called for the parties litigating against the NHI Act to declare a truce and work towards a settlement. The message is simple. Years of fighting over the policy have drained attention from the daily job of fixing a strained…
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NHI Court Challenges: Litigants Reject Settlement Call
Negotiations are unlikely to resolve the NHI Act court challenges in the near future. Most organisations taking the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act to court have poured cold water on Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s suggestion that litigants should meet the government and “craft a settlement”. At the heart of the dispute is trust. Several groups argue that the government should…
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NHI Legal Challenges: Talks Stalled by Politics, Funding Gaps
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s call in Parliament to withdraw the nine National Health Insurance (NHI) lawsuits and pursue negotiations hinted at a reset. The NHI legal challenges highlight complex debates over the future of healthcare in South Africa. Some stakeholders, including Profmed’s Craig Comrie, signalled openness to talks to avoid appearing anti-poor. Yet beneath the courtesy lies hard calculus: most…
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Medical Scheme Increases Amidst Regulatory Concerns
For millions of South Africans grappling with the rising cost of living, the announcement that medical scheme contribution increases for 2026 will largely remain within single digits offers a welcome reprieve. However, industry experts warn that these restrained figures mask a precarious financial reality. 2026 Medical Scheme Contribution Increases: Top 5 Open Schemes Medical SchemeWeighted Average IncreaseEffective DateKey NotesBestmed6.8%1 January…