Health Matters

Tag: Procurement

  • Bonitas Tender Dispute Puts Scheme Governance Under Spotlight

    The Bonitas Tender Dispute has placed fresh scrutiny on major operational changes at South Africa’s second-largest open medical scheme. The legal matter between Medscheme and Bonitas Medical Scheme was expected to be heard this week. It has now been postponed again. At the centre of the case are four tenders. These shifted key Bonitas functions away from Medscheme and other…

    Continue reading with a Health Matters subscription

    Subscribers read every article in full, receive the daily briefing and have access to the complete archive.

    SubscribeLog in

  • Gems Contribution Increase Sparks call for Removal of Leadership

    Public sector unions have escalated pressure on the Government Employees Medical Scheme (Gems). They are calling for the immediate removal of the scheme’s principal officer, Dr Stanley Moloabi, and its executive leadership. This move follows anger over recent premium increases. Unions describe weak oversight, poor governance, and inadequate member protection as their concerns. In a memorandum delivered to the Gems…

    Continue reading with a Health Matters subscription

    Subscribers read every article in full, receive the daily briefing and have access to the complete archive.

    SubscribeLog in

  • AIDS Drug Tender Controversy Raises Serious Questions

    South Africa’s AIDS Drug Tender Controversy has escalated in Parliament, after Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi sought to distance himself from the department’s latest antiretroviral procurement saga. He told MPs that director-general Sandile Buthelezi, as the department’s accounting officer, carries full responsibility for procurement sign-off. This includes the R15.5bn AIDS drug tender announced in August. The tender covers the three-in-one…

    Continue reading with a Health Matters subscription

    Subscribers read every article in full, receive the daily briefing and have access to the complete archive.

    SubscribeLog in

  • Bonitas Tender Dispute: Court Action and Tender Controversy

    South Africa’s second-largest open medical scheme, Bonitas, is opposing an urgent court application by Medscheme to block the appointment of two new service providers. The Bonitas Tender Dispute centres on Bonitas’ decision to end a 44-year administration relationship with Medscheme. Medscheme has served as its administrator since 1982. Bonitas, which covers more than 730,000 people, has appointed Momentum to take…

    Continue reading with a Health Matters subscription

    Subscribers read every article in full, receive the daily briefing and have access to the complete archive.

    SubscribeLog in

  • Bonitas Medscheme Split Sees Momentum and PHA Win Contracts

    The Bonitas Medscheme Split has become a major topic in the South African healthcare sector. Bonitas Medical Fund, South Africa’s second-largest open medical scheme, has confirmed a major supplier shake-up. It will end its long-running administration relationship with Medscheme and hand key roles to Momentum Health and Private Health Administrators (PHA). The changes cover all Bonitas options except Boncap, its…

    Continue reading with a Health Matters subscription

    Subscribers read every article in full, receive the daily briefing and have access to the complete archive.

    SubscribeLog in

  • Gauteng Health Budget Underspending Exposes Service Pressure

    The provincial health department’s failure to spend its budget has once again placed Gauteng’s health system under the spotlight. This comes even as hospitals deteriorate and frontline gaps widen. The Gauteng health department projects an underspend of R725 million for the 2025–26 financial year ending 31 March. This is according to an official reply from the finance and economic development…

    Continue reading with a Health Matters subscription

    Subscribers read every article in full, receive the daily briefing and have access to the complete archive.

    SubscribeLog in

  • ARV Supply Reassurance After Business Rescue Reports

    The National Department of Health has moved to reassure stakeholders about antiretroviral (ARV) shortages after reports that two suppliers in the current ARV tender have entered business rescue. Department spokesperson Foster Mohale said the country is not facing a supply crisis and that contingency plans are already in motion. Mohale said supply disruptions linked to financially distressed suppliers are not…

    Continue reading with a Health Matters subscription

    Subscribers read every article in full, receive the daily briefing and have access to the complete archive.

    SubscribeLog in

  • Afrox Unpaid Invoices: Lawsuit Exposes Provincial Health Debt

    African Oxygen (Afrox), a major supplier of medical gases to South Africa’s state hospitals, has taken the national and provincial health departments to court over R360m in unpaid invoices, some dating back to 2017. The High Court action in Pretoria signals a deepening payment crisis across provincial health systems and raises fresh concerns about the stability of public hospital supply…

    Continue reading with a Health Matters subscription

    Subscribers read every article in full, receive the daily briefing and have access to the complete archive.

    SubscribeLog in

  • Bonitas Faces Investigation for Procurement Irregularities

    The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has officially launched a forensic investigation into Bonitas, the nation’s second-largest open medical scheme. Bonitas faces investigation over allegations of improper procurement processes related to a key contract for its low-income option. The investigation will focus specifically on a contract awarded by Bonitas to Private Health Administrators (PHA) for the administration of its Boncap…

    Continue reading with a Health Matters subscription

    Subscribers read every article in full, receive the daily briefing and have access to the complete archive.

    SubscribeLog in