Netcare reports modest growth in patient days amid holiday timing challenges

PRIVATE healthcare provider Netcare’s total paid patient days (PPD) are expected to increase by only 1.1% for the first six months of its 2025 financial year due to the timing of the Easter holidays, which will slow activity levels.

- EDWARD WEST

Its directors said in a trading update Friday that activity was influenced by the timing of Easter and school holidays. This year the holidays fell in April 2025, as compared to March 2024.

A results update is expected to follow down in April 2025.

Notwithstanding the seasonal factors, they said the group was on track to meet guidance, including that revenue would grow by between 5% and 6% for the financial year, while PPD are expected to increase by between 0.8% and 1.3%.

PPD for the acute hospitals was expected to increase by about 1.5% for the first half. Increased activity has resulted in an improvement to 63.2%, versus 62% at the same time in 2024. In line with sectoral trends, medical cases were growing at lower than-surgical rates, which were impacted by declining maternity cases and the categorisation of lower-margin medical cases.