Draft provisions of the Act on medical programs force consumers to reach even deeper into their pockets

Draft regulations under the Medical Programs Act, if adopted, would allow companies dealing with medical assistance programs to cover part of the costs of treatment, leaving consumers to dig even deeper into their pockets, the Democratic Alliance said on Monday.

Last week, Health Minister Aron Motsoaledi published draft regulations to the Act, proposing changes to Regulation 8. Currently, the Regulation requires companies to cover the full costs of treatment.

“Increasing patient contributions for every medically assisted procedure will result in more and more South Africans turning to a public healthcare system that is already overstretched,” said Wilmot James of the DA.

“In the coming month, the DA will present our alternative regulations to Minister Motsoaledi to ensure a fair process between the consumer and the provider of services under the medical assistance scheme.”

James said consumers should not have to fight for health care costs and healthcare providers should not be able to benefit from government intervention at the expense of South Africans.

“Article 27 of the Constitution guarantees every South African the right to access health care; and personal wealth should not determine who receives appropriate health care and who does not,” he added.

photo source: Alex E. Proimos via photopin cc