Health Funders Association (HFA)

HFA welcomes the Competition Tribunal’s ruling in its favour on eight of the nine exceptions raised by pathology laboratories in the case concerning the pricing of COVID-19 PCR tests during the pandemic.

HFA marks Rare Disease Day by recognising the 4.2 million South Africans living with over 7,000 rare conditions. Medical schemes play a vital role in funding innovative treatments while ensuring a sustainable and equitable private healthcare system. HFA remains committed to collaborating with healthcare stakeholders to drive policy development, research, and advocacy that improve access to care. #RareDiseaseDay #EquityInHealthcare

Collaboration and open dialogue are key to shaping a sustainable and effective healthcare funding environment. Thank you to colleagues at the Council for Medical Schemes for the opportunity to engage on critical industry matters today.

The Health Funders Association fully backs Discovery Health in challenging the recent RAF judgment, to protect the rights of medical scheme members to claim compensation from the RAF. If upheld, this ruling will have significant ramification for medical schemes and their members. We trust the judiciary will restore fairness. #RAFAppeal #MedicalSchemes

Happy New Year from HFA! Wishing our members a year of innovation and progress.

The newly amended HPCSA Ethical Rules are paving the way for value-based care in South Africa – a shift that prioritises patient outcomes over the volume of treatments. In this article, we explore how this transformation can improve health outcomes, lower costs, and foster collaboration between funders and healthcare providers. From managing chronic conditions like diabetes to addressing resource challenges, value-based care offers a sustainable solution.

South Africa’s medical schemes are grappling with rising costs, and members are feeling the squeeze. With contribution increases outpacing inflation, what’s driving these changes, and what’s next? Health Funders Association CEO Thoneshan Naidoo and Insight Actuaries' Barry Childs unpack the factors impacting affordability, from regulatory shortfalls to the pressures of delayed care post-COVID. Read the full article here.

HFA is thrilled to welcome Thoneshan Naidoo as our new CEO! With a wealth of experience in the private healthcare sector and a passion for innovation, Thoneshan joins us at a pivotal moment for the industry. His vision focuses on collaboration, sustainability, and driving the evolution of healthcare funding in South Africa. Read our in-depth article where Thoneshan shares his strategic outlook and what lies ahead for the HFA! #HealthcareLeadership #HFA #Innovation #NewCEO

Access to Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) ensures that nearly nine million South Africans have critical financial protection for maternity, emergency, and chronic care. As Craig Comrie, Chairman of HFA, highlights, medical schemes guarantee these essential services, providing peace of mind and security, no matter how much you've contributed. These benefits are a lifeline for many, preventing unmanageable debt and offering access to private healthcare when it's needed most. Read the full article below.

HFA and other private sector stakeholders have long advocated for a healthcare system that leverages the strengths of both the public and private sectors. This was the principle on which the Presidential Health Compact was initially established in 2018. The backlash against the Second Presidential Health Compact is rooted in a broader concern that the unilateral change to the wording of the Compact contradicts President Ramaphosa's previously endorsed spirit of collaboration.   Read HFA's full article below.