Manto firm over private health care

Speaking at the Board of Healthcare Funders Conference in Durban yesterday, Tshabalala-Msimang hit back, saying she was responsible for the entire health system as her stewardship cut across both public and private sectors. The statement comes amid simmering tensions between the minister and the private sector over her attempts to control the cost of private health care. At the height of angry exchanges, United South African Pharmacies called on Tshabalala-Msimang to leave the private health care sector alone and focus on fixing the crumbling public heath sector, which she took exception to. In her address, Tshabalala-Msimang noted that costs in the private health sector had increased uncontrolled since the 1980s, yet the number of people in the country on medical aid had not yet reached eight million.

Medical scheme contributions too have been going up, with rates increasing from R3 423 per medical scheme beneficiary in 1998 to R7 803 in 2008. It has become increasingly unaffordable for South Africans to belong to medical schemes, she said. The minister said there was also little evidence to indicate that the tariff increases were accompanied by improvements in the quality of care or health outcomes. Tshabalala-Msimang said that an arsenal of legislative measures were being considered to arrest the scourge of spiralling health costs, and some were before the national assembly. Tomorrow she will table policy documents in the cabinet paving the way for the establishment of a National Health Insurance fund. Touted 14 years ago, the fund seeks to provide universal medical coverage for all South Africans. The ANC conference in Polokwane last December resolved that establishing the fund should be expedited. I am quite excited that we are on track with regards to finalising policy on the National Health Insurance.

We need to get buy-in from the industry and all stakeholders. We need to move fast on this. We want to make health care affordable, accessible and of quality, she said. Also before the house are two bills - the Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Bill, and the National Amendment Bill. The first paves the way for a new medicines regulatory authority to replace the Medicines Control Council, and the second proposes pricing regulations for private hospitals. Reflecting on these Bills yesterday, Tshabalala-Msimang said they sought to create a health system that was efficient, equitable and accessible to all South Africans. The conference continues today at Durban 's International Convention Centre.