South Africa is taking steps to cap healthcare costs as it grapples with rising medical charges that most of the country can\u2019t afford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCurrently, there is no structured and transparent framework for determining tariffs for healthcare services,\u201d Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau told reporters on Monday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without such a framework, consumers face a regulation \u201cvacuum,\u201d causing uncertainty about the charges that can be levied, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tau\u2019s comments followed the publication of draft new rules that propose exempting healthcare service providers, including doctors, dentists and pharmacists, from anti-trust rules that ban them from collectively negotiating the fees they charge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The change won\u2019t apply to private hospital admission fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The publication of the draft rules \u201cmarks a critical step toward addressing the cost of access to healthcare and promoting transparency in the healthcare market,\u201d Tau told a briefing in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The move comes as South Africa moves toward a controversial program of universal national health insurance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The National Health Insurance Act, which was signed into law shortly before elections in May after years of wrangling, is considered by critics as unaffordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A 2019 Competition Commission report found that phasing out collective healthcare industry negotiations in 2003 led to an imbalance of market power and unsustainable pricing practices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also argued South Africa needs a dedicated healthcare regulator to ensure sufficient competition and lower prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proposed exemption follows pricing recommendations presented in the report, Tau said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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