Friday, 29 November 2024.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) strongly condemns the exploitative and predatory practices of private laboratories, including Lancet, Ampath, and Pathcare, who shamelessly profited off the suffering of ordinary South Africans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their attempts to deny allegations of excessive pricing for PCR tests expose the greed and inhumanity of these corporations in one of the most unequal societies in the world.

The case currently before the Competition Tribunal highlights the extent of this exploitation. The Health Funders Association, supported by 36 medical schemes, referred the matter to the Competition Tribunal, arguing that the private laboratories engaged in excessive pricing. Initially charging R850 for PCR tests, these companies only reduced their prices to R500 after the Competition Commission intervened, despite the costs associated with testing having decreased significantly. The fact that the laboratories are now attempting to dismiss these allegations as “vague” or “unfounded” is a desperate attempt to avoid accountability for their profiteering during a national crisis. This is a clear indication that they prioritised profit over the health and well-being of South Africans.

This situation highlights the glaring divide between public and private healthcare in South Africa. Public healthcare, subsidised by the government, is meant to serve the majority, particularly during pandemics. Yet, the state’s failure to manage the crisis effectively forced many to rely on private healthcare, which became a tool for exploitation. The government’s abdication of responsibility, expecting citizens to fend for themselves in a time of crisis, reflects a broader agenda: the deliberate sabotage of public healthcare to pave the way for private healthcare to become the norm, enriching a select few at the expense of the many.

The pandemic exposed this cruel reality. South Africans returning from abroad or needing tests for employment and travel were forced to pay exorbitant fees for PCR tests, with no affordable public alternative. This commodification of essential healthcare services during a public health disaster is a stark reminder that pandemics cannot be treated as business opportunities. They demand a coordinated, state-led response that prioritises human lives over corporate profits.

Furthermore, the predatory pricing of PPE and other essential supplies during the pandemic, with few held accountable, mirrors the profiteering seen in the PCR test scandal. The government’s inaction not only deepened inequality but also reinforced the dominance of profit-driven healthcare.

The EFF insists that public health emergencies must be addressed with the urgency and accountability they deserve. We demand full transparency in this case and call for stringent penalties against those who exploited the crisis.

ISSUED BY THE ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Leigh-Ann Mathys (National Spokesperson) 082 304 7572

Thato Lebyane (Media Enquiries) 078 304 7572