Health Market Inquiry finds cost of private healthcare becoming unaffordable

JOHANNESBURG - Trade Industry and Competition Minister, Parks Tau has raised concerns about the rising cost of healthcare. 

He said that with some companies in control of prices in the private healthcare sector, medical care is becoming inaccessible to some. 

The minister raised these concerns during a Health Market Inquiry (HMI) media briefing on Monday.

The Competition Commission initiated the HMI in 2013 to make recommendations that would improve the affordability and accessibility of private healthcare. 

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Tau added that the inquiry found that there are no guidelines to regulate how tariffs are calculated and charged for services.  

"The HMI found that the private health care sector is characterised by high and rising costs of health care and medical scheme cover, declining health benefits, and significant over-utilisation of health services without stakeholders having been able to demonstrate associated improvements in health outcomes. The HMI found the lack of a tariff determination framework, amongst other factors, has led to these inefficiencies"