Medshield Medical Scheme is a healthcare fund where all members contribute towards the fund monthly to cater for medical cover should the need arise. Medshield has been in operation since 1968, making us one of the most experienced, knowledgeable, and reliable medical schemes in South Africa. Our extensive experience in the healthcare sector guides our understanding of our members' needs. Our excellent cover and benefits combined with the best quality systems and services have resulted in our exceptional size and strength. For more information, visit medshield.co.za

Medshield Medical Scheme Newsroom

Medshield Medical Scheme is a healthcare fund where all members contribute towards the fund monthly to cater for medical cover should the need...

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Medshield Media Team

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Dennis Matsane

Willem S Eksteen

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Kevin Aron, Principal Officer at Medshield Medical Scheme

The missing middle: Healthcare affordability must be engineered, not diluted

South Africa’s healthcare debate often focuses on two distinct but separate sectors: a resource-constrained public sector and a high-cost private system serving a relatively small share of the population. Yet the most pressing pressure point lies between these two extremes.

Healthcare reform must be built on stability, not slogans

JOHANNESBURG - Healthcare policy in South Africa has become emotionally charged. While National Health Insurance (NHI) is often presented as an inevitable endpoint, medical schemes are portrayed as temporary structures awaiting replacement. The 2026 Healthcare Budget tells a more sober story. What stood out to me was not dramatic reform, but restraint. There is no new NHI tax. The government kept medical tax credits and did not accelerate the implementation timetable. Instead, the focus is on stabilising the fiscus, strengthening public systems, and restoring credibility. In my view, that signals something important: the South African healthcare reality is beginning to anchor the healthcare conversation.

Routine health checks matter more than you think

Often, the idea of going to the doctor only crosses our minds when we're experiencing symptoms of illness. But in reality, the most powerful step you can take for your long-term health is identifying problems before they start. That is where preventative care, and in particular Health Risk Assessments (HRAs), play a crucial role.

2026 must be about prediction, prevention, equity and innovation

South Africa's healthcare system stands at a crossroads. For too long, we have focused on treating illness once it appears rather than preventing it. The impact is clear: rising chronic disease, mounting pressure on hospitals, and a system pushed beyond its limits. Yet we now have an opportunity we cannot ignore. Advances in technology, data and new care models give us the chance to shift away from reactive "sick care" to a system that gets ahead of problems before they grow, thus predicting and preventing as the way to manage healthcare.

JOHANNESBURG, 5 FEBRUARY 2026 - Gauteng's running community is gearing up for one of the most demanding and iconic tests of endurance on the calendar as the Pirates 21K powered by Medshield returns on Sunday, 15 February 2026.

Medshield powers Joburg’s toughest half marathon in 2026

JOHANNESBURG, 5 FEBRUARY 2026 - Gauteng's running community is gearing up for one of the most demanding and iconic tests of endurance on the...

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Medshield Medical Scheme is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Wayne Riback as its new Chief Medical Officer (CMO), effective 2 February 2026. Dr Riback brings more than two decades of clinical, pharmaceutical and managed-care leadership experience to the role, strengthening Medshield’s commitment to sustainable, high-quality and member-centred healthcare.

Medshield Medical Scheme appoints new experienced Chief Medical Officer

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Medshield Medical Scheme is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Wayne Riback as its new Chief Medical Officer...

Johannesburg - For many people, the first signs of fatigue show up in a particular place: the feet. As the year winds down and the festive season approaches, many of us find ourselves constantly on the move – rushing between work deadlines, school concerts, family commitments, shopping trips, and holiday travel. It's a busy, joyful time, but also one where our bodies begin to feel the strain.

Painful feet – When your feet speak, 
make sure to listen

Johannesburg - For many people, the first signs of fatigue show up in a particular place: the feet. As the year winds down and the festive season...

Johannesburg - So, you've decided to review your medical scheme option. You've reviewed the new contributions and the updated benefits for 2026, and you may be wondering whether your current plan still aligns with your lifestyle. Changing your option within the same scheme is a significant opportunity to ensure that your cover grows with you.

Switching benefit options within your medical scheme

Johannesburg - So, you've decided to review your medical scheme option. You've reviewed the new contributions and the updated benefits for 2026...

Value-based care: rebuilding South Africa’s healthcare future

Johannesburg - Michael Porter, one of the world's foremost Harvard thinkers on strategy and competitiveness, defined value in healthcare as the health outcomes achieved per unit of cost spent. In other words, actual value is not about how much activity the system produces, but about how well it improves people's health relative to the resources consumed. It is a deceptively simple definition. Yet South Africa's healthcare system continues to operate on a vastly different model: fee-for-service. In this system, providers are paid for the number of consultations, tests, or procedures performed, not for the health outcomes they achieve. The result is a system where incentives are misaligned, costs are spiralling, and patients, the people the system is supposed to serve, often fall through the cracks and do not gain the intended benefits from the healthcare ecosystem. The cracks in the fee-for-service system

Essential eye-care tips and benefits

Keep an eye on your cover

Johannesburg - Our eyes help us navigate the world, recognising familiar faces, reading messages, getting around safely, and doing our jobs. But many people only book an eye test once they’re already struggling to see properly. If you’re squinting, dealing with eye strain, or getting regular headaches, it’s a good idea to visit the optometrist sooner rather than later. Early care can make a big difference to your comfort and overall quality of life.

The missing middle: Healthcare affordability must be engineered, not diluted

Healthcare reform must be built on stability, not slogans

Routine health checks matter more than you think

2026 must be about prediction, prevention, equity and innovation

Medshield powers Joburg’s toughest half marathon in 2026

Medshield Medical Scheme appoints new experienced Chief Medical Officer

Painful feet – When your feet speak, make sure to listen

Switching benefit options within your medical scheme

Value-based care: rebuilding South Africa’s healthcare future

Essential eye-care tips and benefits

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Medshield Media Team

Stone on behalf of Medshield Medical Scheme

Dennis Matsane

Senior Consultant, Stone

Willem S Eksteen

Chief Executive, Stone

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