Finance investigates over 30 healthcare providers

THE finance ministry is investigating more than 30 healthcare service providers in connection with irregular claims submitted to the Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme.

This emerged after the finance ministry announced that it would terminate and review the 1 300 contracts PSEMAS has with healthcare service providers, including doctors, hospitals and pharmacies, by the end of this month. According to finance, this is meant to especially give those healthcare service providers who have been found to have transgressed a chance to start on a clean slate, and to allow government to monitor PSEMAS more closely. Amongst provisions in the new contracts will be a requirement by a contractor to submit a certificate of good standing with tax authorities before a contract is signed, as well as having a registered practice.