23 July 2007
The Department of Health has completed the process of consolidating
information relating to the referral of patients from the public health
facilities to private hospitals across the country during the period of the
public service strike action.
A total of 1 136 patients were transferred from public to private hospitals
between 1 and 25 June 2007. These were cases that required urgent attention
that could not be rendered due to staffing and service delivery challenges
relating to the strike.
The Department of Health and the Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA)
representing the private hospital groups agreed to work together to mitigate
the impact of the strike on patient care. The parties involved in this
partnership were Clinix, Joint Medical Holdings, Independent Hospital Network,
Life Healthcare, Medi-Clinic and Netcare.
The overriding concern of both the Department of Health and the private
hospital sector was patient care and the agreement to assist was driven by
social responsibility. As part of this partnership, the private hospital sector
agreed to charge fees that are substantially lower than those normally paid by
people covered by private medical schemes. The accumulative cost of this
transfer is R24,9 million.
The Department of Health appreciates the support received from private
health sector in minimising the impact of the strike on the basic right of the
people of South Africa to access health care. Relevant provincial Departments
of Health will ensure that this bill is settled accordingly.
Contact:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
Issued by: Department of Health
23 July 2007
