Stats SA reveals a ten-year decline in household medical aid coverage: SAMA's Dr Mzukwa weighs in

Medical aid is often one of the first expenses people consider cutting during financial hardship, but cancelling it can expose individuals and families to substantial financial and health risks.

South Africans are reported to be opting out of expensive medical aid schemes; according to data from Stats SA, fewer South African households have medical aid today than 10 years ago.

Experts say this consumer action is making the model unsustainable, another disturbing factor is that 15% of South Africa's healthcare spending is lost to fraud, waste and abuse.

The Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) announced that this is costing the sector about R30 billion a year.

According to the BHF, common abuses include procurement irregularities, counterfeit medicines, prize fixing, duplicate claims, overservicing and fraudulent billing.

For more on this we are now joined by Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa, Chairperson of the South African Medical Association (SAMA) and recently elected President, of the Confederation of African National Medical Association (CANMA).

Stats SA reveals a ten-year decline in household medical aid coverage.

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