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Luxury: South Africa’s two-tier healthcare system offers selective protection to those who can afford medical aid contributions, co-payments and out-of-pocket expenses.  (Photo Archive)

NHI is bugbear of the upper crust

It is the political and economic fightback of those who have long enjoyed the luxury of world-class care where wealth buys life, dignity and speed, while the poor are forced to…

Medicines, especially advanced therapies, come with high price tags. Photo: Madelene Cronje

Address barriers to accessing innovative medicines

Too often, systems have been designed around protecting profits rather than protecting lives

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says medical aids cost too much. Will tax alone be enough to pay for NHI? We look at the numbers. (GCIS)

Is tax alone enough to pay for the National Health Insurance?

The NHI Act says funding healthcare for all should come from tax but economic growth is in a vice and many people are without jobs

The Council for Medical Schemes estimates that fraud, abuse or waste accounts for about 15% of the R160-billion in claims that medical aids pay out annually. (Gallo)

Private healthcare loses more than R22-billion a year to fraud, waste

The Special Investigating Unit says it is actively targeting healthcare fraudsters.

“The total amount spent by the competition commission on the market inquiry into the private healthcare sector since its establishment in 2013 amounts to R196 949 637,” Patel said in the written reply. (David Harrison/M&G)

Private healthcare market inquiry cost R196m – Patel

Public hearings took place in 2016, and the commission received written reports and feedback from 175 stakeholders

In the past, HIV-positive people weren’t allowed to donate their organs. But that could change. (Luis Robayo, AFP)

Estranged bedfellows: Why the private sector remains wary of universal healthcare

Globally, one in four private healthcare groups surveyed won’t work with governments.

Private hospitals have better equipment and are more likely to employ more experienced personnel than the public sector.

‘Most citizens are poor so private hospitals seem costly – they are not’

Association argues statistics skew the view of private hospital costs after international study questions facilities’ affordability.

Healthcare systems in Africa face several major challenges, including inefficiency, inequity and inadequate resource allocation.

Private healthcare inquiry counts cost of medical aid

Prescribed minimum benefits dominated the public hearings at the start of the Competition Commission’s inquiry into the private healthcare market.

Painful process: Dental assistants want to be registered – a move opposed by the South African Dental Association.

Dental work’s a kick in the teeth

Many dental assistants in private practices are paid very little and have to do menial tasks.

Mouthing off: Most medical schemes ignore the advice that if they provide adequately for oral health

Medical aids have dentists over a barrel

Dentists say the reduced rates paid out by medical schemes are putting them out of business.

Unequal: Only 16% of the population have medical schemes and private healthcare. The rest must make do with public hospitals when they fall ill.

Comment: Restore medical aids to good health

Private healthcare is meant to support public health, but it must be kept in check.

Discussions with local colleagues in paediatrics revealed how a single video or instant message with false information was enough to dissuade parents from believing in medical therapies, writes the author. (Madelene Cronje/M&G)

Maximum intervention prescribed

The HPCSA failed to rein in medical aid schemes — now it’s up to the Competition Commission

Mediclinic drops R3-billion after share sale to fund acquisitions

The company stock dropped 4.7% after a share sale to institutional investors to generate cash for investment opportunities.

The cost malady; Foresight is 2020

Vital changes need to ?be made in healthcare to give patients better value for their money.

Mediclinic profit increases as more South Africans turn to private health

Mediclinic International has seen an increase in full-year profit as more patients have visited its hospitals and spent more money per visit.

Publicly waiting for x-rays, privately abandoning all hope

In the state sector, not everyone is equal. Some of us have to pay an arm, a leg and a full working day.

Unconscionable: Health workers’ right to refuse abortions vs women’s right to choose

Comment: Preventative care will lower costs

Better-quality primary healthcare would result in lower medical aid premiums.

The woman, who became a medical student this year after passing an exam at a different university, said she hopes her suit will encourage fairer admissions. (AFP)

Right of reply: Motsoaledi makes fools of us

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has left serious questions about the National Health Insurance scheme unanswered, writes Chris Archer.

Discussions with local colleagues in paediatrics revealed how a single video or instant message with false information was enough to dissuade parents from believing in medical therapies, writes the author. (Madelene Cronje/M&G)

Crack team to probe private health costs

Practitioners in the private heatlthcare industry have welcomed the Competition Commission panel members who will lead the inquiry into the sector.

Private sector lags in HIV testing

Government facilities are trumping their larnier colleagues in providing HIV services.