[JOHANNESBURG, 8 AUGUST 2017]

The latest edition (12th) of Health Care in South Africa, a 448 page overview of the South African healthcare sector, is now available. The book is edited by Liz Still and published by Profile Media.

The book describes the financing of the South African healthcare sector, the regulatory environment, and key participants in the healthcare sector. The book has found a wide audience amongst clinicians, administrators in the healthcare sector, financial and medical advisors, and students.

Statistics sourced from previous editions of the book have been used in high-level company presentations and quoted at the Health Commission Inquiry. The book is accredited for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points by the Financial Planning Institute (FPI) and on the recommended reading list of several diploma and graduate courses.

Health Care in South Africa is delighted to welcome Dr Debbie Pearmain, a private legal consultant and former Special Advisor to the Minister of Health, as a contributor to the 12th edition of the publication. We hope that she will become a regular contributor as she expertly updated all the chapters pertaining to the regulatory environment.

Other regular contributors include the esteemed Val Beaumont, an industrial pharmacist who has worked in the pharmaceutical sector for over 40 years, management consultant Angela Mackay and researcher Kira McDonald.

Health financing data from a wide range of sources has been collated on the assumption that without good data there cannot be confident allocation of resources, informed prioritising of needs or the proper evaluation of services delivered.

While the availability and quality of health data has improved over the last decade, the book notes with concern that there is still too little information in crucial areas. Editor Liz Still said that this was especially important in the light of imminent and drastic health policy reform. For example, there is no information in the public domain on any of the following:

• The cost of care in the public sector measured in a way so as to make this information comparable with prices in the private sector.
• The number of GPs and specialists actually working as clinicians and a realistic estimate of their clinical load in the private health sector.
• The amount of ‘out-of-pocket’ money spent on health services by South Africans in both the public and private sector.

“While the delivery and management of healthcare must be improved, it is unconscionable that health policy reform could be contemplated without such data being available,” Still said.

Highlights of the 12th edition include the following:

• A special feature on gap cover products and primary health insurance
• New chapters explaining the difference in terms and conditions of products sold under the Long-Term and Short-Term Insurance Acts

Standard features of the book include:

• An explanation of alternative models of health systems structure and financing
• South Africa’s health and economic indicators compared with peer countries
• Latest medical scheme statistics from the Council for Medical Schemes
• Interviews with selected Principal Officers of medical schemes
• Summaries of relevant court cases
• Lists of the 270 acute and 26 chronic prescribed minimum benefits

The book is available through the publisher’s website (www.profile.co.za) and has a suggested retail price of R212.00 including VAT. For bulk orders (50 – 99), the price is R195.00 per copy. The book can either be collected from the publisher in Houghton or posted. For more information about the book please contact either Liz Still or Heléne Kleinhans.

Endorsements for the 12th edition of Health Care in South Africa

“Health Care in SA is the definitive guide to the world of healthcare funding. Liz Still’s passion is demonstrated in her ability to solicit views from across the spectrum and condense this into a comprehensive, annual digest. The most commendable aspect of Health Care in SA is that it includes divergent and opposing views to mainstream, conventional thinking about healthcare – this provides for a powerful and much needed resource.”
Neil Nair: Principal Officer, SAMWUMED

“Health Care in South Africa 2017/18 is an insightful read for any serious-minded person seeking to gain a better understanding of the complexities prevalent in our current healthcare milieu.”
Richard Blackman: CEO of Day1 Health (Pty) Ltd.

“This book is essential for anyone involved in healthcare funding in South Africa. HR managers, brokers, trustees and Principal Officers, healthcare professionals and their practice managers, trade unions and regulators will all benefit from this concise and objective insight into a very complicated yet vital industry in South Africa”.
Jeremy Yatt: Principal Officer, Fedhealth Medical Scheme

“This book is for any individual who takes Continuous Professional Development seriously and understands the importance of being up to date with the latest developments in healthcare in South Africa.”
Lelane Bezuidenhout, CFP^®, HOD: Certification Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa

[ENDS]