News24 writes that South Africans are among the biggest purchasers of voluntary health insurance in the world, and an expert has warned that this has the potential to derail the public healthcare system.

Around 15% of South Africans are covered by voluntary healthcare insurance – but this group accounts for more than 40% of the spending on healthcare. According to the World Health Organisation's (WHO’s) coordinator for health financing policy, Joe Kutzin, if this trajectory doesn't change soon, SA may see itself trapped in an expensive healthcare system characterised by inefficiencies and bogged down with administrative costs. Speaking on Monday at a joint event between the WHO and the national Department of Health to commemorate International Universal Health Coverage Day, Kutzen warned that SA would need to embrace universal healthcare if it hoped to change the trajectory of its healthcare system. He said the amount South Africans spent on private healthcare had a significant impact on the entire healthcare system, which drove up prices and influenced the availability of resources. He added that the government was contributing to the problem by subsidising private medical aid schemes for civil servants. "If the direction of the healthcare system doesn't change, South Africa could be in trouble," Kutzin warned. In an address at the event, Health Minister Joe Phaahla echoed Kutzin's sentiments, adding that the top private healthcare companies were wealthier than many mining, manufacturing and agriculture companies.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicole McCain at News24 (subscriber access only)

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