PRIVATE HOSPITAL COSTS. Admitted to parliament.

Byline: Xolile Bhengu

PRIVATE HOSPITAL COSTS Admitted to parliament The debate on regulating pricing in the private health-care industry has reached parliament. In recent weeks a very public discussion has been taking place between the health department, medical schemes and private hospitals on the escalating costs of private health care, with health minister Aaron Motsoaledi suggesting a central bargaining forum as one of the ways to curb costs.

The parties have been unable to reach consensus on the issue, a key aspect of implementing government's National Health Insurance (NHI) plan, which would create SA's largest state-funded medical scheme.

The …