The South African Communist Party (SACP) on Tuesday welcomed the release of the Health Market Inquiry (HMI) report, reaffirming its support for the introduction of National Health Insurance (NHI) for all South Africans.

The HMI began in January 2014, and was tasked with establishing whether there were barriers to competition in the private healthcare sector and impediments to patient access.

The Competition Commission inquiry, headed by former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo, released its final HMI report on Monday, recommending that the health department consider establishing a supply-side regulator to oversee pricing and quality issues in the private healthcare sector.

Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel has suggested referring the report and its recommendations to Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize for implementation.

The SACP said it would closely follow through the process to ensure that it results in proper regulation in the interest of quality healthcare for all South Africans, through the NHI.

“The Competition Commission investigation was occasioned by a public outcry about the ever rising, already exorbitant prices charged by the private health sector, which only a few can afford. The sector is primarily dominated by a monopoly comprising three private hospital oligopolies, namely Netcare, Mediclinic and Life Healthcare,” said the SACP.

The party said it was clear that private profit interests were opposed to the introduction of the NHI as they were involved in the exploitation of the healthcare needs of the people for self-enrichment.

“It is an undisputed fact that those who have a medical aid cover are affected as well. Many of them find themselves effectively without the medical aid cover by or just after mid-year annually as a result of a combination of the astronomical prices charged by the private health sector and the way medical aid schemes “benefits” are structured,” the SACP said.

The party said a radical reduction of the cost of healthcare was needed to make it fair and affordable to patients and said proper regulation would prevent the NHI from being looted by private profit interests.