The National Healthcare Professionals Association has called for urgent reforms to the operations of the regulatory bodies of private medical schemes. This follows the findings by the Section 59 Investigation Panel looking into allegations of racial discrimination by medical schemes against black healthcare providers.
The panel found some medical aid schemes practiced racial discrimination in their investigations into fraud, waste and abuse by certain black healthcare providers.
Chairperson of the National Healthcare Professionals Association, Dr Donald Gumede, says the bullying tactics by the regulatory bodies has pushed many black medical professionals out of the practice.
“This morning as well, I received many calls from our professionals who actually left private practice because of these medical aid bullies. Many of them have lost their income. Some of them have to take alternative careers, because their practices were closed. Others, who were not strong enough, committed suicide, because they have lost their income. They have lost their livelihoodm, because of these people. Because they do not care if you look at it closely. They will call you and tell you if you don’t pay us, we don’t pay. So, it’s either you succumb to their demands, or you go hungry,” says Gumede.
The panel’s report has been met by pushback from some medical aid schemes.
Video: Section 59 report on medical aid schemes
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