Netcare questions Minister's attempt to cap prices

The Health Minister says climate change has contributed to an increase in malaria and cholera cases

Private hospital group Netcare says regulating the costs of private medical aid schemes and hospitals is not the solution to ensuring health accessibility to all. Netcare and other private health institutions met with Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang in Cape Town today to discuss the spiralling costs of medical aid schemes.

The Minister announced after the meeting that the Health Department would regulate private health care.

Netcare CEO Richard Friedland says not enough consultations were done. The medical schemes claim that increased salaries for nurses are the reason for the price increases; however, the Minister says there is no evidence to prove this.

Tshabalala-Msimang added that private hospitals and medical aid schemes, who overcharge patients for anesthetics, will have to reimburse them. She says the current charge of over R200 per operation is too high. She has recommended that they keep their rates capped at the average Consumer Price Index.