This is according to the South African Health Review’s chapter on private hospitals authored by Thulani Matsebula and Michael Willie. There was also a 34% increase in the number of private for-profit hospitals during the same period - from 161 hospitals in 1998, compared to 216 hospitals in 2006. Matsebula and Willie said the growth in private hospital beds occurred at a time when the public sector was reducing the number of beds in virtually every province. The reduction of hospital beds and public perceptions of quality in the public sector impacted positively on private hospitals with the medical scheme population moving away from public hospitals. Netcare, Medi-Clinic and Life Healthcare are the main private hospital owners, accounting for more than 75% of private hospitals and 80% of private hospital theatres, the greatest source of income. Read more