CAPE TOWN – South Africa’s Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has called for increased regulation of the private healthcare sector, including private hospitals and related services.

Motsoaledi stated that while the medical aid sector is regulated under the Medical Schemes Act, other aspects of private healthcare remain largely unregulated. He emphasized the need for legislation to establish a regulatory framework for private hospitals and associated services.

Speaking to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday, Motsoaledi highlighted that past attempts to introduce regulation in the private healthcare industry had not been successful, despite recommendations supporting such measures.

The minister argued that an oversight structure must be established through an Act of Parliament, stating:

“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.”

Motsoaledi noted significant resistance from the private healthcare sector over the years, saying:

“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 also pointed out that the reliance on cash payments for healthcare services is a key issue, adding that this was one of the driving factors behind the introduction of the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, aimed at making healthcare more accessible and protecting consumers from excessive costs.

The call for stronger regulation aligns with the government’s broader efforts to reform the healthcare system and ensure that private healthcare services operate within a fair and transparent legal framework.