Essential Hospital Package for South Africa: Selection Criteria, Costs, and Affordability

The Committee of Enquiry into National Health Insurance (NHI) in South Africa recommended in 1995 that formally employed individuals and their employers be required to fund at least a minimum package of hospital coverage for workers and their dependents. This has recently been echoed in a Department of Health Policy paper on Social Health Insurance. This research aims to define and cost a minimum package of essential hospital care for competing (public and private) health insurers in South Africa. [abstract]