Emerging multinationalists: The South African hospital industry overseas

The opening of the economy to trade and investment is affecting health systems worldwide - including those dominated by publicly subsidised and provided healthcare as public sector markets are opening-up to private investors and suppliers. Multinational Companies (MNCs) operating in the hospital sector are gaining momentum and, as this paper reveals, they are not only from rich developed countries. Through a case-study of three South African private hospital firms, the focus in this paper is on an understanding of how healthcare services MNCs from an emerging economy, South Africa, has internationalised and how this may impact the home country. The three firms have over the past 5 years established a strong presence overseas and are today the leading global players in the hospital industry.