Solidarity warns that greed could result in the downfall of hospital groups

By Celeste Ganga
13 January 2008

Solidarity on Sunday warned private hospital groups that excessively high rate increases are discrediting private medical care in South Africa and that it could lead to the downfall of the industry in general.

“We believe that the fact that they are greedy can lead to the demise of the industry and that brings a very worrying situation in the country, especially in the light of the fact that our state hospitals don’t have the capacity to serve all South Africans,” says Solidarity spokesperson, Jaco Kleynhans.

Kleynhans adds that they are asking private hospital groups not to increase more than the inflation rate. And that the current increase of between 8% and 33% on certain of their fees are unnecessary and that they must decide not to do that.