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A hospital ward.
The South African Medical Association Trade Union (SAMATU) has criticised Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi for attributing the high cost of private healthcare to a lack of regulation.
Motsoaledi presented the Health Market Inquiry (HMI) report at a media briefing yesterday, highlighting widespread overuse of health services, deteriorating benefits, and rising healthcare costs.
He stated that these issues stem from inadequate regulation in the private healthcare sector.
“We believe we can set up an independent supply chain regulator for healthcare because the Treasury has told us very clearly that they will never countenance the formation of three public entities because those that are there are actually establishing them.”
PODCAST | SA’s private healthcare faces scrutiny over high costs:
SAMATU General Secretary Dr. Cedric Sihlangu questioned the Minister’s stance, arguing that regulation falls under the Department of Health’s responsibilities.
“What we find a bit unfortunate is that the Minister, being the Minister of Health, is vested with the authority to be the one that is responsible for health care in the country both private and public health care. So there’s no Minister of Public Health. So you can’t have a convenient argument where you come back later and say well there are no regulations.” said Sihlangu.
He added: “The question is, who was responsible for putting in place regulations? A simple answer is in the National Health Act. It’s the Department of Health, it’s the Minister of Health. These regulations ought to have been in place all these years to prevent escalating costs, and that was never done.”
