Shaping a healthier and wealthier South Africa through prevention

JOHANNESBURG - Events in recent years have pushed countries to rapidly evolve their healthcare systems, demanding that they shift their focus towards pivotal strategies that can curtail long-term healthcare costs. It is particularly pertinent in South Africa, where the escalating healthcare costs pose a formidable challenge. Healthcare costs are spiralling, putting immense pressure on the nation's economy.

South Africa's healthcare system is, without a doubt, a very complex amalgamation of public and private sectors, with a significant disparity in access and quality of care. Furthermore, the country grapples with the burden of infectious diseases and a rising tide of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. The country's health challenges remain daunting. Yet, amidst these challenges lies an opportunity for innovation and transformation.

By prioritising health benefits that support prevention and wellness, we can empower our members to make healthier choices and reduce the burden of chronic diseases on our healthcare system. Together, let us forge ahead, inspire change, and build a healthier future for our members and the communities we serve.

It is not just about treating illness anymore but about preventing it. Research shows that preventive healthcare – which involves averting the onset of disease – has the potential to reduce healthcare costs significantly. By integrating preventive measures and wellness programmes into the healthcare framework, South Africa can pave the way for a sustainable future. This shift is not a luxury but a necessity that could reduce long-term healthcare costs and, more importantly, foster a healthier nation.

Preventive measures like routine screenings, vaccinations, and health education programmes can play a transformative role in healthcare. By encouraging early detection, promoting healthy behaviours, and addressing modifiable risk factors, we can potentially prevent or identify conditions at their earliest stages, which are most treatable and often less costly to manage. Such measures improve health outcomes and reduce the financial burden associated with treating advanced or chronic conditions.

Wellness challenges and opportunities

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has highlighted the importance of implementing preventive strategies in South Africa, given the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and non-communicable diseases.

Wellness programmes, which encourage healthy lifestyles and regular health monitoring, can play a crucial role in disease prevention. Wellness programmes can reduce chronic conditions' incidence and severity, leading to lower healthcare utilisation and costs over time.

These programmes can include initiatives like smoking cessation, weight management, and stress reduction workshops. One of the primary reasons for neglecting physical health is the lack of time. People constantly rush from one task to another and do not have time to prioritise their physical health. When faced with choosing between going to the gym or meeting a work deadline, most people will choose the latter. Add to this the mental exhaustion that comes with a busy lifestyle. When people are constantly under stress and pressure, they feel they need to focus all their energy and attention on their work or other responsibilities. As a result, they neglect the basics of physical health, such as getting enough sleep, eating healthy, and exercising regularly.

For medical schemes, active engagement from members is essential, and offering incentives like premium discounts or rewards can enhance participation rates. Several South African companies and healthcare providers are leading the change in developing programmes that promote physical well-being, mental health, stress reduction, mental resilience, and emotional health.

As a medical aid provider dedicated to the well-being of our members, Medshield Medical Scheme advocates and prioritises health benefits that support preventive measures and wellness programmes.

Medshield Movement is a free, all-in-one online resource centre to access and enjoy the latest exercise videos, workout programmes, meal plans, live workouts and more – everything needed to support your journey towards better personal fitness, health, and overall well-being. It hosts a variety of products, including engaging, informative articles and interactive video workout sessions. Our ClickFit workout programmes are like having access to your personal trainer from the comfort of your home, 24/7. Access is free for Medshield members but anyone can sign up by visiting https://clickfit.co.za/.

Global research shows that every dollar spent on wellness programmes yields a return of $3.27 in healthcare cost savings. In South Africa, these savings are critical in alleviating financial pressures on the public healthcare system and private medical schemes. Investing in preventive healthcare is not just a health strategy but also an economic one. By catching diseases early or preventing them altogether, we can save a substantial amount on treatment costs and lost productivity. This approach could alleviate the financial strain on our healthcare system and ensure resources are available where needed.

Crafting health benefits with tomorrow's budget in mind

Medical schemes are crucial in making private healthcare more affordable for individuals. These schemes pool members' contributions to cover medical expenses and negotiate rates with healthcare providers. By leveraging their collective bargaining power, medical schemes can negotiate lower fees for services and medications. Unfortunately, this is not allowed in terms of a Competition Commission ruling and the approach adopted by the Council for Medical Schemes. It helps mitigate the impact of health inflation on individual members' budgets. However, it is essential to note that medical scheme contributions have also been subject to significant increases over the years due to rising healthcare costs. Balancing affordability while ensuring adequate coverage remains challenging for consumers and medical scheme providers.

Medshield's key strategic goal is to ensure the scheme's sustainability through competitive benefit design and pricing and providing sufficient reserves to buffer against exceptional circumstances like a pandemic. Customer service and exceeding member expectations are also vital strategic objectives. We believe in reducing healthcare costs without compromising quality. To make medical aid contributions more affordable, Medshield needs to be innovative. Therefore, new ways of reimbursing healthcare providers and hospitals should be found, such as introducing 'Value Based Healthcare', where providers are paid for healthcare outcomes rather than just the activity.

Such health benefits prioritising preventive measures require a multi-faceted approach, including comprehensive screenings, vaccinations, and health education. Incorporating these into membership plans can ensure more comprehensive access and uptake among the population. Medical schemes can tailor similar interventions to address prevalent health concerns. The innovative ones offer wellness programmes, encouraging members to maintain their health through regular exercise, balanced diets, and stress management.

As healthcare costs increase by approximately 10% annually, benefit programmes focus on prevention, identifying modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors and implementing intervention techniques to reduce the need for more advanced medical procedures. Modifiable risk behaviours include unhealthy eating habits, smoking, and lack of physical activity, while non-modifiable ones include age, genetics, and gender. The business environment has also influenced employees' health problems due to globalisation, increased competition, and changes in work organisation.

Promoting health benefits for preventive measures and wellness programmes

As medical aid providers dedicated to the well-being of our members, we need to advocate and prioritise health benefits that support preventive measures and wellness programmes. We can achieve this through a multi-pronged approach:

The promise of prevention

South Africa faces challenges in implementing preventive health benefits and wellness programmes due to disparities in access, varying health literacy levels, and the need for robust data. Collaboration between government agencies, medical schemes, healthcare providers, and the private sector is needed to overcome these issues. Increased awareness and education about the benefits of preventive care, especially in rural and underserved communities, is crucial. The shift towards preventive measures and wellness programmes may reduce long-term healthcare costs and improve public health outcomes. This requires strategic investments in wellness programmes and active engagement from members. The need for collective action is growing, with healthcare providers, policymakers, businesses, and individuals embracing a culture of wellness and prevention.

The widening gap between consumer and health inflation rates highlights the need for comprehensive but sensible reforms to curb rising costs while ensuring equitable access for all citizens. Through collective efforts, South Africa can move closer towards achieving an affordable and sustainable healthcare system for all its citizens. This shift promises a healthier, more vibrant South Africa, reducing long-term healthcare costs and elevating the well-being of its citizens.

Measuring success and long-term impact

It is essential to establish meaningful metrics and measures of success. It includes tracking participation rates in wellness programmes, analysing healthcare utilisation patterns, and evaluating health outcomes over time. By analysing data on the long-term impact of preventive measures and wellness programmes, we can demonstrate the tangible benefits of reduced healthcare costs, improved member satisfaction, and overall population health.

FIN

(1650 words)

Willem S Eksteen

Chief Executive, Stone

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media@stone.consulting011 447 0168