The report found evidence of racial discrimination by major medical aid schemes against black healthcare practitioners.

The investigation, launched in response to complaints by affected practitioners, concluded that the procedural fairness rights of some doctors were violated.

The report singled out Discovery Health, Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS), and Medscheme, which collectively cover 80% of the country’s medical scheme members.

“Today (Monday) they were now releasing the final findings that indeed they found it to be true that there's racial profiling and racial action taken against black doctors, Africans, Indians and Coloureds,” said Motsoaledi.

“They concentrated mostly on three medical schemes, Discovery, GEMS and Medscheme. If you are able to make findings on 80%, statistically, it means the other 20% will fall in place.”

The Section 59 panel was appointed to probe allegations that black healthcare professionals were being unfairly targeted for investigations and fraud audits by medical aid administrators. These claims raised alarm across the healthcare sector and among civil society organisations, which have long called for accountability and transparency in how medical schemes deal with providers.

Motsoaledi did not indicate specific timelines for implementing the panel’s recommendations but said he would respond appropriately and in due course.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--