Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

It’s time for cheaper medical aid options, says AfriForum

Soundbite: Louis Boshoff (English)

Soundbite: Louis Boshoff (Afrikaans)

AfriForum emphasised yesterday, in its commentary on a research report by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) regarding low-cost benefit options, that South Africa urgently needs cheaper medical aid options. This RMS report follows in response to a framework proposed in 2015 for low-cost benefit options with the aim of making amendments to existing legislation to enable the implementation of cheaper medical aid options. In its commentary, AfriForum agreed, among other things, that there are shortcomings in the proposed framework, but argued that it would be better to implement the existing proposal than to let an amendment process or alternative proposal drag on for years.

Under the existing Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998, medical schemes are required to offer a set of prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) as part of each option. The legislation aims to prevent exploitation but results in even entry-level medical scheme options being unaffordable. The low-cost benefit option framework provides medical schemes with limited exemptions from PMBs.

The CMS released its report on low-cost benefit options in October 2023, and the Minister of Health requested comments in February of this year. AfriForum submitted concise comments on this, outlining the principle that cheaper medical aid options are essential but at the same time highlighting concerns about the existing proposal.

According to Louis Boshoff, AfriForum’s Spokesperson on health, the legislation requiring PMBs has existed since 1998, and research began in 2001 to allow for more affordable medical aid options. “After 24 years of research, discussions, stakeholder consultations and amendments to proposals, no proposal has yet been approved by the Minister. In the meantime, residents of South Africa are longing for cheaper medical aid options.”

Boshoff adds that state healthcare cannot fill the gap left by the absence of affordable medical aid options and that National Health Insurance (NHI) does not offer a solution either. “The Department of Health is ineffective in managing public hospitals and clinics but, at the same time, does not want to relax restrictive regulations for the private sector. It is time for the Minister to make room for private solutions.”