South Africa tops Australia, US in private healthcare

August 15, 2005

Private hospitals in South Africa perform much surgery better, faster and cheaper than Australia and the United States, a study published on Monday has found.

The Hospital Association of SA which represents about 75 percent of private hospitals and clinics, did a comparative analysis of average private hospital costs in South Africa, the US and Australia.

SA 50 percent cheaper than US, Australia

The association's chief executive, Kurt Worrall-Clare, said South Africa was up to 50 cheaper than the US and Australia with regard to procedures requiring hospitalisation.

"This confirms that South Africa's private health care facilities are able to perform procedures such as coronary bypass surgery, hip replacements, renal transplantation, cataract surgery and others, better, faster and cheaper than most first-world countries, without any waiting period," he said.

"Not only do our private hospitals subscribe to international measurement criteria in various disciplines such as organ transplantation, renal dialysis and open-heart surgery, but they are also determined to remain abreast of technological advancements and regularly introduce the latest health care innovations."

Worrall-Clare said on average, the private hospital industry invested R8-billion in health care technology annually, about 45.7 percent of the sector's turnover.

According to the study the average combined cost of ward and theatre fees, drug and surgical equipment for an uncomplicated Caesarean section in a private hospital in South Africa is around R15 431, almost half the R29 445 in Australia and a quarter of the R58 602 cost in the US.

The cost of a colonoscopy in a private South African hospital, R3458, is one-third less than the cost of the identical procedure in Australia, R5305, and 30 percent of the cost for the same procedure in the US, R11 760.

A tonsillectomy is between 53 percent to 58 percent less than in Australia and less than 10 percent of the cost levied in the USA.

A hip replacement is 77 cheaper than Australia and 58 percent cheaper than the US.

A vasectomy costs R3883, just 10 percent of the R39 900 charged in the US.

Better patient outcomes

"Statistical evidence also points to better patient outcomes in South Africa's private health care system for several major procedures such as organ transplants and joint replacements," Worrall-Clare said.

"In addition... the morbidity and mortality rates in the private health care sector are low, with maternity mortality in particular being virtually non-existent."

Patient-Days among the lowest

Patient-days in South Africa's private hospitals are among the lowest worldwide. This has a positive impact on health care costs and is also felt on a social and economic level as patients return to productive employment far sooner.

The average stay for an uncomplicated Caesarean section is four days in a private hospital in South Africa, compared to 3.38 days in the US and 5.9 days in Australia.

Patients who undergo a straightforward hip replacement in South Africa's private hospitals spend an average of 5.58 days in hospital, while the length of stay for the identical procedure in the US and Australia is 4.59 and 9.5 respectively.

Sapa

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This article posted September 11, 2005.