South Africa’s NHI Act faces a major legal challenge. The Board of Healthcare Funders’ (BHF) NHI legal challenge argues that the law is unconstitutional and unworkable. This move adds uncertainty to the landmark law. It aims for universal health coverage (UHC). Critics note its lack of a clear funding model. The BHF supports UHC’s goal. However, they consider the current…
Tag: South African healthcare
-
BHF Challenges NHI Act Over Public Consultation Flaws
The Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) has intensified its opposition to the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. It has launched a direct legal bid to the Constitutional Court to have the controversial legislation declared unlawful and invalid. The BHF challenges the NHI Act, contending that Parliament failed to fulfil its constitutional duty by conducting an improper public consultation process. This…
-
Medical Fraud: A Discussion on Race and Class
The long-awaited final report from the Section 59 inquiry has left more questions than answers regarding medical aid fraud in South Africa. The investigation, initiated by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) after complaints of racial bias from healthcare providers, found that while fraud detection methods were fair, black practitioners were disproportionately found guilty of fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA).…
-
Discovery Health Sees Membership Decline in 2024
Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) is navigating a challenging landscape. A recent annual report, released ahead of its AGM, reveals a notable decline in membership across several of its core medical plan options in 2024 compared with 2023. Nine out of the 16 core DHMS medical plan options experienced a drop in members. Seven plans saw increases. One of these…
-
Gauteng Health pay chaos sparks doctor fury
The non-arrival of their expected commuted overtime payments left public sector doctors across Gauteng reeling. The Gauteng Health pay chaos blindsided the medical community and caused significant distress. This sudden non-payment, affecting medical staff province-wide, has ignited a firestorm. It exacerbates existing tensions over the Gauteng Department of Health’s controversial plans to cut and alter overtime terms. These changes occur…
-
Experts warn against using PIC funds for NHI and hospitals
In a recent development, South African Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi suggested using PIC funds to finance the construction of public hospitals and support the NHI initiative. However, financial experts argue that the PIC, which manages over R2.7 trillion in assets for the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), should only fund revenue-generating government health projects that align with its mandate.…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…