The Council on Medical Schemes says legal eagle Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi will head an investigation into alleged discrimination of black and Indian medical professionals in the private health sector,
The investigation was launched following allegations by members of the National Health Care Professionals Association (NHCPA) that they were being unfairly treated and their claims withheld by medical aid schemes based on the colour of their skin and ethnicity.
Council of Medical Schemes CEO Sipho Kabane says they believe that Advocate Ngcukaitobi, who is a respected legal mind, will help go to the root of the allegations wich include racial profiling, black listing for payments, blocked payments, demands of confidential clinical information, bullying and harassment.
Written submissions will be received until the end of the month and thereafter, interviews and public hearings will be held from July to September. The final report on the investigation is expected on November 1.
Any interested persons including juristic persons, entities, institutions and organs of State are invited to make written submissions to the Section 59 Investigating panel by no later than 30 June 2019. Written submissions must be concise and succinct, and should include a brief summary.
Submissions should be sent to
cmsinvestigation@medicalschemes.com
According to Statistics South Africa, at least 10 to 15% of all medical aid claims are fraudulent, abusive or wasteful in nature, a substantial expense in a R150 billion industry.
