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News | Healthcare Financing | Prescribed Minimum Benefits
New Regulations May Reshape Healthcare Tariffs Ahead of NHI Implementation
Time to read: 01:26
Published: 18 February 2025
The Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC) has proposed a temporary block exemption to standardize tariff determination, aiming to reduce costs and improve affordability in the sector. This move comes after more than two decades without formal tariff regulation, leading to fragmented negotiations between healthcare funders and providers.
The proposed exemption would allow collective tariff negotiations and the standardization of diagnostic codes, treatment protocols, and quality metrics across both Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) and non-PMBs. If approved, the exemption will last for three years under the oversight of the Department of Health, in consultation with the Council of Medical Schemes.
Comments on the gazette must be submitted to the DTIC by 14 March 2025 and emailed to Dr Ivan Galodikwe, IGalodikwe@thedtic.gov.za
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The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition gazetted proposals for a block exemption from certain sections of the 1998 Competition Act for the healthcare sector, calling for public comments. It is expected that, once in force, the exemption will facilitate access to ‘affordable, quality healthcare services’ across schemes with prescribed and non-prescribed minimum benefits. This by reducing costs and discouraging the ‘overutilisation of healthcare services’.
To that end, the proposed exemption allows the collective determination of:
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