The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has officially released its CMS Industry Report 2024. This document offers the first fully integrated review of the sector since 2022. It merges critical data on healthcare utilisation with a comprehensive financial assessment. The findings paint a picture of an industry under significant strain. Key pressures include demographic shifts, soaring hospital costs, and a…
Tag: private healthcare
-
Private Healthcare: Addressing Funding Concerns in South Africa
Speakers at this year’s Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA) conference presented a stark reality to delegates: both public and private healthcare funding in the nation is heading towards a sustainability crisis. While potential solutions involving smarter collaboration and resource pooling exist, the path to implementation remains fraught with inaction. Political inertia is also a significant barrier. The conference unfolded…
-
Private Healthcare Market Dominance Reveals Serious Problems
A new report reveals a troubling reality. A small group of private hospitals and medical schemes are earning huge profits. This is due to their ongoing market dominance. The advocacy group Open Secrets states that a lack of regulation is a key factor in this issue. Six years ago, the Competition Commission raised similar concerns. However, very little has changed…
-
Bid to Pause NHI Legal Challenges Met with Fierce Opposition
South Africa’s Health Ministry has tabled what it calls a “pragmatic solution” to the barrage of legal challenges facing the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. Opponents have slammed the move as a deliberate attempt to stall litigation while pushing ahead with implementation. The government is currently facing a complex web of 17 different legal applications across the High Court…
-
African Nursing Conference Aims for Collaborative Care
Public and private sector nurses from across the SADC region are gathered in Boksburg this week for the Fifth African Nursing Conference. This conference provides a critical platform aimed at bridging divides. It also focuses on forging a united path towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the era of National Health Insurance (NHI). The African Nursing Conference is focused on…
-
HFA’s NHI Court Challenge: A Legal Perspective
The contentious National Health Insurance (NHI) Act again faces court action, with HFA’s NHI court challenge marking its sixth legal challenge. This time, HFA’s NHI court challenge is brought by the Health Funders Association (HFA). The HFA represents a significant portion of South Africa’s medical scheme industry, including Discovery Health Medical Scheme. It has formally petitioned the court to declare…
-
NHI Legal Challenges cost Health Department R9.7 Million in Fees
The Department of Health has incurred a substantial legal bill, spending R9.7 million since October 2023. This was to defend legal challenges against its flagship National Health Insurance (NHI) Act and the existing National Health Act. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi revealed the figures to MPs yesterday. This was in response to a question posed by Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Michéle…
-
Private Hospitals Brace for Muted Growth Amid Economic Squeeze
LEADING analysts are cautious about the growth trajectory for South Africa’s private hospital sector. They cite stagnant medical aid membership figures, a declining healthcare workforce, and a persistently challenging macroeconomic environment as key headwinds. This week, Netcare and Life Healthcare, two of the nation’s largest private hospital groups, reported earnings growth for the six months ending in March. However, Netcare…
-
NHI Sparks Alarm and Calls for Healthcare Reform
The looming implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act is casting a long shadow over South Africa. NHI sparks alarm among critics who are expressing profound concern over its viability. This is particularly due to the well-documented struggles within the existing public healthcare system. Fears are mounting that the ambitious plan could decimate private medical schemes. However, it might…
-
NHI Act Court Challenges and Their Implications
The Board of Healthcare Funders is preparing to escalate its legal fight against the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. They are launching two new court challenges targeting public participation and constitutionality. The Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) is preparing to launch two significant new legal challenges against South Africa’s contentious National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. This signals a deepening…
-
SAPPF takes legal action against controversial NHI Act
The South African Private Practitioners Forum (SAPPF), the largest association of medical specialists, has taken legal action against the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. This move adds to the growing pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa to reconsider the legislation, which has faced increasing opposition. The SAPPF filed an application with the High Court in Pretoria on October 1, asking…