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It is a not for profit organisation that exists solely to further the interests of its member hospitals. To this end HASA involves itself with national and provincial forums of the Department of Health, as well as their related committees and personnel. We welcome you to our new website. CONFERENCES PRIVATE HOSPITAL REVIEW 2009 NEWSLETTER RESEARCH |
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Industry NewsBHF Conference signals threat to industry19 July 2008 In Categories: Industry News The BHF conference, held on 13-16 at the Durban ICC , has come and gone leaving in its wake questions about the future of the ailing medical schemes industry in South Africa. The spanner in the wheel was the announcement made by Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, the Minister of Health, that there is an urgent need for "momentous changes in healthcare financing". The minister of health informed the conference of government's intentions to establish the long mooted National Health Insurance (NHI). Typically, NHI involves either the government or multiple entities purchasing or providing basic healthcare cover for the entire population. Should government choose to administer this new system as muted by Moremi Nkosi, Dierctor of Health Insurance in the Department of Health, it would be the end of the multi-billion medical aid business as we know it. The renewed urgency with which the issue is being addressed and the shift in focus from social, or mandatory, health insurance through medical schemes for all those who can afford it to NHI follows a resolution adopted by the ANC at its Polokwane conference in December last year. But Zweli Mkhize, the chairman of the health and education sub-committee of the national executive committee of the ANC and the MEC for finance and economic development in KwaZulu-Natal, told the conference he envisaged the private sector working in partnership with the government to improve healthcare cover for everyone. THE Hospital Association of SA welcomed government's initiative to establish the NHI to provide healthcare cover for all South Africans.This proposal was put to Cabinet on Wednesday by Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. "The private hospital sector fully supports the concept," said HASA board member Biren Valodia in a statement. "We believe that universal health cover for all South Africans, if properly designed and implemented, is one of the measures that can help increase affordability and access to healthcare in this country." He said the private hospital sector had a positive contribution to make, and looked forward to engaging the government and other healthcare stakeholders in this process. However, Valodia reiterated the association's opposition to a draft legislation imposing a process of price regulation on the private healthcare sector. He said HASA had not changed their view that the process set out in the draft National Health Amendment Bill amounted to price regulation and that the legislation be withdrawn. "The bill would result in the National Health Reference Price List, currently a recommended price guide, becoming the mandatory default price in the event that negotiations between hospitals and funders reach a stalemate. This is price regulation." The private hospital sector remained disappointed at the level of consultation and negotiation over the draft health legislation, Valodia said. Not all speakers focused on the future though, with Rajesh Patel, BHFs head of benefit risk harping on the old and tired arguement that schemes are losing millions in rands in undisclosed rebates and discounts of medical devices. Last year Patel accused private hospitals of overcharging medical aid schemes and their members by at least R2 billion a year but his figures morphed until he was forced to save face by apologising to the Mediclinic and Lifehealthcare groups. Read the comprehensive Reports from Business Report's Laura du Preez
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Hasa Awards of Excellence: Quality in Action is Service Delivery20 July 2011 HASA is inviting all of its member to submit ENTRIES with reference to the categories listed below for the HASA Awards of Excellence. Hasa Awards of Excellence: Call for Nominations13 July 2010 The annual Hasa Awards of Excellence are part of the Ministerial Healthcare Awards. This year's theme is Quality is Excellence. The process to find the best of the best in the private hospital industry is nearing its end. The Health Excellence Awards 2010 will take place in November 2010 and the deadline date for submission of entries is 07 October 2010. LegalWatchJune02,6815 June 2010 The Children’s Act 38 of 2005 (as amended). How does it affect healthcare? Several outstanding provisions of the Children’s Act [Act 38 of 2005] have become operational. The relevant Government Gazette has made the date upon which the law became operational as being 01 April 2010.
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