The Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness has established a think tank focused on forging closer ties with the private sector, reported Business Day (10 June 2025).
It comprises a group of stakeholders, including representatives from private hospitals, laboratories, pharmacy groups, medical schemes, and academic institutions and provincial health department officials.
“The think tank's work will proceed independently of the national Department of Health's ongoing push for National Health Insurance (NHI).”
(Western Cape remains the sole province that voted against the NHI Bill.)
“One key area of focus is a proposed initiative that would allow public sector patients to access specialised medical equipment and diagnostic imaging, such as CT and MRI scans, at private facilities.Another promising initiative involves discussions with private sector pharmacies to expand Western Cape's chronic medicine dispensing programme.”