Author: Craig Comrie
South Africa has entered 2026 facing a familiar but intensifying healthcare paradox. It is another election year, with local government elections due to take place from November and healthcare will remain a focal point of how citizens hopefully vote to change the politicking into tangible health service delivery. Once again National Health Insurance (NHI) is set to dominate the political debate however beneath the policy rhetoric, affordability remains the single biggest pressure point across both the public and private healthcare system. While the long-term vision of universal healthcare is widely supported, the practical reality of NHI remains uncertain. Funding constraints,…
If you’re a member of a medical scheme, you should know about Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs). These are the benefits that are, by law, offered to ALL medical scheme members, no matter the scheme and guarantee access and cover to a minimum defined list of benefits. The intention is to ensure all members of medical schemes in South Africa have access to essential treatment for certain, pre-determined, medical conditions. In theory, they provide a safety net, guaranteeing a minimum level of care for serious illnesses like cancer. Sounds good, right? In practice, the cost of PMBs has been on the…