"The crisis in the public healthcare sector could be eased by tripartite collaboration between government, the trade unions and the private sector," says Blum Khan, chief executive of Metropolitan Health Group, one of the country’s largest private sector medical scheme administrators.
"The newly released South African Health Review paints a depressing picture of the health system in this country, but it is clear that the role of the private sector, which at present delivers services to only seven million insured people in this country, should be to assist government in its delivery and cut through some of the bureaucratic nightmares that have evolved over years of under funded management," he says.
He believes there should be engagement between government, unions and the private sector in which the appropriate methods, technologies and facilities that exist are shared for the good of all.
"Healthcare in South Africa is a constantly shifting environment, with the provision of affordable healthcare for low income earners and the unemployed a prime objective," says Khan.
"We should be looking at a new blue print for healthcare with the private sector working with the government to overcome the challenges facing the country, in particular HIV/Aids and bringing public sector hospitals up to standard.
"There are pockets of excellence but we need to see these becoming more consistent over the whole delivery system.
"We can work together, sharing our abilities to ensure delivery and provide relief," he says.
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