No plan to nationalise private hospitals in wake of coronavirus

JOHANNESBURG – Minerals Council says it is ready to use wards in mine hospitals for Covid-19 patients.

South Africa’s big three hospital groups are Netcare, the Life Healthcare Group and Mediclinic Southern Africa, which is a division of Mediclinic International.

Department of Health spokesperson Popo Maja said in an interview with Business Report on Wednesday that the government was not looking to nationalise private hospitals because of the epidemic.

“There is a way we can work with the private sector if we need to access their facilities. We are not considering the nationalisation of private hospitals at all. Whenever there is an outbreak, private hospitals are willing to work with us to provide beds in hospitals when we have emergencies. They are willing to work with us,” Maja said.

After the Spanish government moved on Monday to nationalise all private hospitals and healthcare providers as the country grappled to arrest the spread of the virus, speculation has arisen whether this could happen in South Africa.