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CONFERENCES PRIVATE HOSPITAL REVIEW 2009 NEWSLETTER RESEARCH

Industry News

MEDIA STATEMENT

06 April 2009

In Categories: Industry News , Industry News > General , Industry News > Patients

HASA DISAPPOINTED WITH ZOKUFA'S REMARKS

MEDIA STATEMENT

Monday, 6 April 2009: The Hospital Association of South Africa (Hasa) says it is disappointed with recent remarks made by the Board of Healthcare Funders’ (BHF) Humphrey Zokufa during what is a critical period for the country’s healthcare industry.

Zokufa is quoted in the media as saying that private hospital fees ‘bordered on exploitation’ and that ‘surging hospital costs’ are the result of an ‘oligopoly comprising Medi-Clinic, Netcare and Life Healthcare’.

Hasa CEO, Kurt Worrall-Clare, says it is indeed unfortunate that Zokufa holds this opinion. “But with respect, we strongly disagree and believe this to be an uninformed comment. The private sector has published research on hospital costs and to date, the BHF has not taken us up on our offer to engage on issues regarding their concerns.”

In a 2004 global Monitor Group survey, South Africa’s private hospital sector was ranked fifth best in the world in terms of quality and performance and, aside from being inaccurate and derogatory, Zokufa’s comments are damaging to the healthcare industry at large.

Hasa feels that Zokufa’s statements are particularly unfortunate given the positive strides that have been made over the past few months regarding the working relationship between the private and public healthcare sectors.

Hasa says that with National Health Insurance (NHI) looming, all stakeholders within the healthcare sector should be focused on making a constructive contribution to the future of the country’s healthcare system. “With so much positive progress having been made, why engage in another round of finger-pointing?” says Worrall-Clare.

Hasa has again invited BHF to meet with members of the private hospital sector to discuss its concerns.

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Lucas Malambe is Hasa's Executive Officer, Corporate Communications educated at the universities of the North and Witwatersrand. Malambe has a postgraduate qualification in Business Management and Economics from the University of Johannesburg where he is finishing his Masters in Commerce (Business Management).

He is also the editor of the prestigious research-driven publications Health Annals and the monthly Hasa News.

He has seven years experience in public communications having worked for DRUM magazine as a health journalist, sub-editor, and columnist. Lucas also worked for Lifeline Southern Africa interfacing with the organisation's various publics. At this time he contributed regularly to publications such as Business Day's Health Supplement and Mshana as a health correspondent and health-advice columnist respectively.

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Hasa Awards of Excellence: Call for Nominations

13 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.

LegalWatchJune02,68

15 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.

Hasa Code of Ethics

07 June 2010

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The Hospital Association of South Africa is a non-statutory body; the Association will gladly act as a mediator and will investigate an incident on behalf of a patient, or relative.

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