While Government has made notable strides in building a more equitable public system since the introduction of the Medical Schemes Act in 1998, the gap between the public and private sectors remains stark, with only around 16% of South Africans accessing private medical schemes, wrote Andrew Schuwltz, CEO of Medscheme, in Business Day (5 May 2025).
“This significant discrepancy underscores a crucial opportunity for the private sector to extend its role and contribute meaningfully, particularly in SA’s vision for universal health coverage (UHC).
“The future of SA healthcare lies in a well-structured partnership model. This requires medical schemes, administrators, and the state to collaborate effectively to create a high-performing, integrated national health system.
“One compelling example of how the private sector can help bridge the affordability gap for the working uninsured is the evolution of low-cost benefit options (LCBOs) extending access to quality healthcare for millions more South Africans.”