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A doctor wearing a stethoscope.
Members of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health have called for consequences to be meted out against medical aid schemes that were found to have discriminated against health professionals on a racial basis.
Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi briefed the committee on the Section 59 report, that looked into systematic discrimination faced by the black healthcare providers through medical schemes.
The investigation was done by Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, who was the chairperson, Advocate Adila Hassim and Advocate Kerry Williams. The panel found that there is unfair racial discrimination in this regard.
“The findings have been made that indeed when this fraud, wastage and corruption and abuse is being investigated, blacks, in this case meaning African practitioners, Indian practitioners and coloured practitioners were found to be on the receiving end. That’s basically the main finding,” says Motsoaledi.
[WATCH]
The Section 59 probe has found evidence of racial discrimination against black healthcare providers by medical schemes. Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says the report is worrying. pic.twitter.com/QiBkjmFVSI— SABC News (@SABCNews) July 8, 2025
ATM-leader Vuyo Zungula expressed concern over the penalties and consequences of the medical aids that carried such behaviour.
“What happens now, after it was found that the medical aid was wrong, the doctor was racially profiled and there was bullying, what happens to medical aids that behave like this and how is that aspect going to be handled? The issue of ensuring that fraudulent ones are taken out and innocent professionals are not destroyed in the process. A way to prevent future mistreatment of black professionals and what are the consequences and penalties for all the institutions caught on the wrong side? ”
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