Motsoaledi calls for more regulations for private healthcare sector
Motsoaledi said a structure must be established through legislation, adding that only the medical aid side of private healthcare is regulated through legislation like the Medical Schemes Act.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi during the SONA debate in Parliament on 12 February 2025. Picture: Phando Jikelo/Parliament of SA
CAPE TOWN - The Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has called for more regulation for the private healthcare sector, including areas like private hospitals.
Motsoaledi said a structure must be established through legislation, adding that only the medical aid side of private healthcare is regulated through legislation like the Medical Schemes Act.
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Motsoaledi now wants private hospitals and other aspects of private healthcare to be overseen by a regulatory body.
On Tuesday, Motsoaledi told the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) that previous attempts to regulate private healthcare have come to nothing over the years.
This is despite recommendations supporting this.
Motsoaledi insisted that the industry should have a structure that regulates the industry, established through an Act of Parliament.
“But there is no single act of Parliament that regulates what must happen in a private hospital, as to what they must do and what they must not do.”
He said there’s been a lot of pushback over the years from the private sector.
“It can’t just be left on its own. We’ve been trying as government to regulate it, but we met a lot of headwinds when we tried to regulate.”
He said they also need to find a way of doing away with paying cash for healthcare, saying this is why the National Health Insurance (NHI) came about to protect consumers.