What is HASA?

The Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA) is an industry association which represents the collective interests of the majority of private hospital groups and independently-owned private hospitals in the Republic of South Africa. Currently, Hasa comprises a total of 192 private hospitals representing about 28 500 beds and over 90% of the private hospital industry in South Africa. It is a key role-player in South Africa's healthcare environment. Governed by a Board of Directors and under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer, Adv. K. Worrall-Clare, HASA functions as the official mouthpiece of South Africa's private hospital industry.

The HASA Brand

The logo of Hasa was launched in the late 1996, and the web of crosses circling the letter H signifies the unity and integrity of private hospitals.

• The H in the logo projects a strong health focus, and the weave around it embodies unity, warmth and caring with the red line indicating the vigour, passion and love in saving lives - which are core features of the private hospital sector in South Africa.
  
• The logo serves as a rallying point for members around the reinvigorated HASA and is already signifying the Association's new identity as a brand of professional excellence, growth, quality healthcare and transformation.
• Blue is the colour of depth and stability and it symbolizes loyalty and wisdom of our members.
  
• Green has strong healing power and emotional correspondence with safety, and is well supported by the background white palette signifying safety and cleanliness. Membership of Hasa is voluntary. As such, our members have the utmost commitment to quality services, high ethical and professional healthcare standards.

Aims and Objectives

• Promote the development of an economic and social system, based on the principles of equal opportunity, justice, free market economy and individual entrepreneurship.
  
• On behalf of the private hospital industry, comment on proposed legislation and initiate constructive debate around any such issues;
  
• Act as an industry representative to commissions, committees or other institutions;
  
• Forge affiliations with international private hospital bodies;
  
• Function as an industry communications hub and notify members on national and international affairs which may have ramifications for South Africa's healthcare sector;
• Investigate complaints and mediate patient or member disputes; and
  
• Market the industry and its competence to the public. Stimulate greater awareness of private hospital excellence through improved communication between hospitals and the South African community.
• Encourage and facilitate united positions among member and non-member private hospitals, as well as all other relevant bodies, to achieve consensus in the policies and issues to improve access to quality healthcare.
  
• Promote and recognise the highest professional and ethical standards, healthcare service delivery, innovative medical technology and intense research for the betterment of patient and community wellbeing.

Standards

The Hospitals Association of SA, since its inception in the late forties, has been an integral part to the achievement and maintenance of the highest standards of patient care within private hospitals.

• Hasa, through its office, provides input to the evolution of public healthcare policies.
• Moreover, Hasa has representatives in strategic committees driving policies forward.

A Brief History of Hasa

The private hospital industry in South Africa came into being early in the 20th century, with mostly maternity homes and general surgical units. In the 60s the South African Association of Private Hospitals was the only representative body for the industry, but not for long. In the 70s a new private hospital body called the National Federation of Private Hospitals (NFPH) was formed as a rival to SAAPH. It marked a turbulent period for the sector as both organisation fought for recognition as the official mouthpiece for the industry.

In the late 70s a structure of the two organisation and another RAMS (Representative Association of Medical Schemes) representing medical schemes was formed to discuss tariff issues. It took the steam out of the rival associations as they shared chairmanship of the structure. But in the middle of 80s the honeymoon was over when RAMS decided they will only negotiate with one body.

The two groups formed joint body they will call the Representative Association of Private Hospitals (RAPH) to protect the universal interest of the whole industry. Discussion of regulations for the control of private hospitals, compliant handling procedures and other management frameworks also began at this time. By the end of 1986 the two groups formally merged the National Association of Private Hospitals (NAPH) with an initial complement of 65 hospitals.

However, It was not fully representative of the sector and discussions concerning the unification of the private hospital industry began in September 1993. At the annual general meeting of private hospitals held on 07 june 1996 it was resolved that the NAPH name be changed to HASA in a spirited bid to accommodate unaffiliated hospitals. It was the beginning of one association representing the interest of all South African private hospitals.

Hasa was made up to fully represent South Africa and six regions were establishe. A seventh region, the Psychiatric Focus Forum, was added in 2000 to allow the private psychiatric hospitals to co-operate in advancing their unique interest. Today Hasa, representing over 94% of private hospitals, is seen by government and other stakeholders as the official representative body of the industry.

Overview of private hospitals

The following statistics indicate the relative size of the industry per annum.

Total Number	Year	Private Sector Beds	Life Health Care	Mediclinic	Netcare
24154	2002	5942	6293	4880	7039
24314	2003	5341	6471	5485	7129
26593	2004	6770	6531	6173	7295
27138	2005	6995	6738	6250	7331
27443	2006	6855	6744	6533	7311
28467	2007	7265	6894	6732	7576

As of June 2007 there were 28426 private sector beds in total, of which 7224 were independently owned (not by Netcare, Mediclinic or Life). Of that 7224 a total number of 957 beds were within the mining sector, leaving 6267

The 2007 breakdown by hospital:

Hospital Group	Number of beds
Netcare Holdings (Listed Company)	7576
Mediclinic (Listed Company)	6732
Life Healthcare (Unlisted Company)	6894
Joint Medical Holdings (Unlisted Company)	357
Melomed (Unlisted Company)	388
Clinix (Unlisted Company)	657
Community Health	781
Gold Fields	869
Harmony	88
Other independents	4084
Total Private Sector Beds	28426

Psychiatric Hospitals within the Republic:
The total number of private Psychiatric Hospitals within South Africa is as follows:

• Bloemcare Psychiatric Hospital (70 beds);
  
• Claro Clinic (45 beds);
  
• Denmar Specialist Psychiatric Hospital (120 beds);
  
• George Mediclinic (40 bed annex to main hospital);
  
• Kenilworth Clinic (60 beds);
  
• Ikhwezi Neuro Clinic (60 beds);
  
• Life Entabeni Hospital ( 27 bed annex)
  
• Life Hunterscraig (35 beds);
  
• Life St. Marks (31 beds);
  
• Life Riverfield Lodge (66 beds);
  
• Parkmed Neuro Clinic (23 beds);
  
• Pines Clinic (24 beds);
  
• Riverview Manor Specialist Clinic (32 beds);
  
• Stepping Stones (35 beds);
  
• Tijger Clinic (21 beds):
  
• and Vista Clinic (127 beds)
  
  

The total number of private psychiatric health establishments (not all of which are hospitals) is 16. It is made up of 14 dedicated (specialist) psychiatric hospitals, and two annexes of main hospital. Many general hospitals, licensed in terms of Regulation 158 however, have psychiatric beds allocated to them. It is however, difficult to determine the exact number of psychiatric beds within these hospitals, as they are used for other services, including (but not limited to) paediatric care.

By 2007 the total number of psychiatric beds in the private sector amounted to 1071, of which 549 beds are independently owned.

Bed types:

Currently the sector is made up of the following bed types: medical, surgical; maternity; neonatal ICU; ICU; Specialised ICU; High Care; Paediatric; Psychiatric and Day Ward. (Description restricted to the private sector, as the State uses its own terminology)

Bed Type	Description.
Medical bed	Treatment of diseases that do not require surgery e.g. diabetes, pneumonia, AIDS, meningitis etc.
Surgical bed	General surgery involves any kind of operation done by a general surgeon e.g. appendicectomy, varicose veins, removal of tumours, incision and drainage of abscesses etc.
Maternity & Obstetrics	Any procedure or treatment involving fertility or childbirth.
Neonatal ICU bed	Where neonates are incubated and ventilated with half-hourly observations.
ICU bed	A specialized unit where trauma and general surgery patients who are being ventilated are nurses on a l : 1 ratio.
Specialised ICU bed	ICU specializing in specific cases such as Cardiothoracic ICU, Vascular ICU or Neurosurgical ICU. These patients are ventilated and nurses 1 : 1 with specialized equipment not found in general ICU.
High Care bed	A specialized unit where patients are nursed usually 1 nurse to 2 patients who require close monitoring, but are not ventilated.
Paediatric bed	Treatment of medical and surgical problems related to children under the age of 12 – 14.
Psychiatric bed	Treatment of mental health care users as defined within the Mental Health Care Act, 2002.
Gynaecology	Mostly surgical procedures involving female reproductive organs e.g. hysterectomy, D & C, abortions, fertility treatment etc.
Neonatal	The period immediately after the birth of a baby.
Neonatal High Care A	Where neonates are in an incubator on headbox oxygen. Hourly observations.
Neonatal High Care B	Where neonates are in an incubator with hourly observations.
Neonatal Ward	Neonates requiring no special care, except for tube or bottle feeding until the desired discharge weight is reached e.g. 2 kg.
Orthopaedics	Where surgery of the skeleton is done e.g. hip, knee and shoulder replacements.
Thoracic	Surgery of the chest e.g. lungs and oesophagus.
Cardiothoracic	Surgery of the heart.
Vascular	Surgery of the blood vessels e.g. veins and arteries.
Renal	Refers to surgery or medical care of the kidneys.
Urology	Surgery of the bladder and usually male genitalia involving the urinary system.

South Africa’s private hospital industry is truly a national asset of which the country and its citizens can be justifiably proud. Standards of medicine and care are rated amongst the finest and most cost-effective in the world. Indeed, our private hospital industry is the envy of many other countries.