It has been a year of unnecessary acrimony, with a tsunami of negativity , largely targeting the private healthcare sector. Kurt Worrall-Clare, Chief Executive Officer of Hasa, presents in On The Brink... an in-depth overview of the interaction between policy makers and the private health sector.
Understanding hospital inflation in SA is not easy and one can be entangled in polemics. In Inflation, Costs and Comparison of Hospital Services in SA, Mike Schüssler, Senior Economist of T-sec, offers a well informed economic analysis of the relationship between medical inflation and hospitalisation. This award-winning economist addresses ways to achieve objectivity regarding the measure of hospital and medical inflation.
The political transition of SA is struggling to bring about the desired change in healthcare. Dr Nkaki Matlala, Presidential Medical Panellist and HASA chair, investigates this "new apartheid" in Universal Health Access and Poverty he looks at the interction between poverty and health outcomes.
Nursing shortages are neither new nor unique to SA. Dr Eloise van Niekerk, National Nursing Manager of Life Healthcare argues in Skills Mix, A Nursing Reality, that the problem goes beyond the pressures of supply and demand.
Melanie Da Costa and others discusses issues pertaining to the proposed National Health Insurance. The article investigates universal health systems in 13 countries.
In Enhanced Transformation and Accessibility Dr Mvula Yoyo, Medi-clinic, expertly scrutinises the political economy of transformation of the private healthcare sector in a country consisting of "two economies".
Is there a doctor in the house? is a provocative analysis of the shortage of doctors. Dr Clarence Mini, Thebe ya Bophelo and Lucas Malambe, Hasa Annals Editor, go beyond the vacancy levels and asks a lot of questions regarding skills migration. Why is SA failing to use its obviousl competitive advantage in attracting skills?
To change or not to change... is another vexed question. Neil Kirby, Director at Werksmans Attorneys, disects the public and private interests as manisfested through the complex interactions of legislations and rights and obligations.
Little things in IPC does make a huge difference in health. Dr Rose Mulumba, Country Director, John Snow Research and Training Institute in SA argues that Infection Prevention and Control provides a golden thread that can help balance the disparities between private and publica health outcomes.
Do we really understand the underlying cost drivers in our national health system? The answer is in Ashleigh Theophanides's (Direcot and Consulting Actuary, Deloite) Length of Stay and Occupancy, a Deloite actuarial investigation into the factors that makes up private hospital fees.
Database
The publication also serves as a database of information concerning private hospitals and medical schemes. There is a complete list of open and closed medical insurers and also private hospitals by the number of beds, theatres and contact details. Past issues of HASA Health Annals are also available, and can be ordered from HASA through this web page. (Currently Available: Annals 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000).
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