The Health Market Inquiry panel has its work cut out to determine the true state of pricing in the private healthcare sector. This week’s public hearings concluded with submissions from the Radiological Society of South Africa (RSSA) and Mediscor PBM. The RSSA put forward a view that radiologist are price takers, Continue Reading
The Health Market Inquiry panel has its work cut out to determine the true state of pricing in the private healthcare sector. This week’s public hearings concluded with submissions from the Radiological Society of South Africa (RSSA) and Mediscor PBM. The RSSA put forward a view that radiologist are price takers, Continue Reading
Netcare agreed that the HPCSA is dysfunctional and the issue is particularly concerning because the country has a shortage of health professionals. Netcare emphasised the limitations on private bodies to train professionals proposing that the inadequacy in training capacity indicates a need for private medical training.
The day began with two mothers and their children presenting to the Health Inquiry Panel about the challenges that they had in accessing healthcare services for their children. Both Kyle Drescher (19) and Jessica McCarthy (24) gave moving testimony about their personal challenges in accessing medical treatment for conditions that Continue Reading
The Acting Registrar, Dan Lechutjo led the CMS team in the oral submissions to the Panel. He was supported by Paresh Prema, General Manager of Benefits, Anton de Villiers, General Manager of Research and Monitoring and Nondumiso Khumalo Senior Researcher of Research & Monitoring. The CMS focused on several key Continue Reading
In today’s session, the Panel sought to understand how the public and private sectors interact with one another. The Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal Departments of Health all made oral submissions. All three provincial departments described the state of health services in the private and public health systems in their Continue Reading
On 3 March 2016, the Health Market Inquiry first heard from Kwanele Asante-Shongwe, who is the founder of the breast cancer advocacy organisation, BreastSens. In her submission Asante-Shongwe drew attention to the wide gap between those who have the resources to access healthcare in the private sector and are in Continue Reading
Discovery Health Administrator Today, 2 March 2016, Discovery Health Administrator (DHA), led by Dr Jonathan Broomberg, made its submissions to Health Inquiry. DHA is a for profit entity, unlike Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) – a non-profit entity – which will make submissions to the Panel tomorrow. Cost-drivers in the Continue Reading
The Market Inquiry into the Private Healthcare Sector began its third week of public hearings with presentations from the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF), the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) and Bestmed, amongst others. The day’s hearings were punctuated with surprising and sometimes contradictory statements. Here is a summary of Continue Reading
Health Professions Council of South Africa The last day of the second week of public hearings for the Health Market Inquiry began with submissions and extensive questioning of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). The HPCSA, which comprises over 30 health professions and 12 Professional Boards, began the day Continue Reading
On 24 February 2016 the Health Market Inquiry heard presentations from the South African Medical Association (SAMA), the South African Society of Anaesthesiologists (SASA) and the South African Optometric Association (SAOA). According to SAMA, one of its main functions is to administer and publish procedural codes which are used throughout the Continue Reading
The Health Market Inquiry heard today (23 February 2016) from health care professionals in the ongoing public hearings held by the Inquiry’s esteemed Panel headed by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo. Dr King, a cardiologist at Sunninghill Hospital, started the day discussing prescribed minimum benefits, particularly in relation to medicines. Continue Reading