South Africa's Outdated Medical Aid System Faces Calls for Urgent Reform Amid Rising Costs
South Africa's prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) system, which was established to ensure medical scheme members receive essential treatment for certain serious conditions even after their standard benefits are exhausted, has remained largely unchanged since its last major revision in 2003. This stagnation persists despite significant and ongoing shifts in healthcare costs, advancements in treatment methods, and evolving disease patterns over the past two decades. Katlego Mothudi, managing director of the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF), has publicly highlighted that these outdated regulations are a primary factor contributing to escalating healthcare expenses for medical aid members, who are already contending with premium increases that consistently outpace inflation. The financial burden on medical schemes has grown considerably, with the proportion of their budgets allocated to PMBs surging from approximately 40% in 2003 to now exceeding 60%, indicating a substantial and growing financial commitment ... 
