The demarcation regulations clearly distinguish between medical insurance products and medical aid schemes. For the consumer, this means that while limited gap cover and hospital cash-back plans will still be allowed, primary healthcare insurance policies will no longer be available. All existing policies will need to align with the regulations from 1 January 2018. Affected..
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Hospital cash-back plans crimped by new law
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How to choose a medical aid
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Most medical schemes have launched their benefits and contributions for 2017 and it is the time when you should be re-looking at your existing medical aid cover or, if you are wanting to join a scheme, investigating which one suits you best. The medical aid landscape can be tricky to navigate so it is important..
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The most expensive and cheapest medical aids in SA for 2017
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The latest GTC Medical Aid Survey for 2017 has been released, which compares local medical aid schemes on cost to members across various levels of cover. According to GTC, medical aids are complicated schemes, and comparing them is an almost impossible task; however it has developed a review process that compares schemes across specific categories,..
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Pryse vir kankermedikasie word ondersoek
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Suid-Afrikaanse kankerpasiënte en hul geliefdes het die mededingingskommissie se besluit om drie farmaseutiese maatskappy se pryse vir kankermedisyne te ondersoek geloof, en versoek dat die ondersoek so spoedig moontlik afgehandel moet word. Die mededingingskommissie het vroeër die week aangekondig dat hulle die internasionale farmaseutiese reuse Aspen, Pfizer en Roch ondersoek omdat die maatskappye na bewering..
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Non-invasive scan for liver disease
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In the past the only way to measure a liver’s elasticity was through a biopsy, but now, a non-invasive alternative has emerged, whereby elasticity of a patient’s liver can be measured using vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE). Adopted as a frontline tool for assessing liver fibrosis by the European Association for the Study of the Liver..
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Healtcare Services Delivery need to change in Africa
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Healthcare services delivery in Africa needs to change, but no-one is quite certain how. What is certain is that future trends will be driven by access to big data, to shape new models of care in driving innovative, affordable and accessible services, across this diverse continent. With 1,2bn people, many enjoying a longer life, and..
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Vitamin D Deficiency
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If you shun the sun, suffer from milk allergies, or adhere to a strict vegan diet, you may be at risk for vitamin D deficiency. Known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is produced by the body in response to skin being exposed to sunlight. It is also occurs naturally in a few foods —..
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South Africans are urged by dietitians to ‘Eat Fact Not Fiction’ June 2017
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Nutrition advice promising all sorts, from weight loss to healthier living and even cures for diseases, spread like wildfire across social media. In the era of ‘alternative facts’ and post-truth, ‘the latest, greatest nutrition advice’ from dubious sources can unfortunately tempt many away from accepted dietary guidelines and recommendations based on years of evidence. ‘Eat..
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This Popular Children’s Medication ‘Is Basically Crystal Meth’ Warns Doctor
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According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a brain disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.”(1) It’s characterized by three key traits: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. This condition, as well as ADD (attention deficit disorder), are diagnosed by observing behaviors. There..
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Genesis wins case on accounting for use of medical savings funds
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On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court ruled that all funds paid by members to their schemes should be considered as assets, regardless of their intended use. Genesis medical scheme has won its legal battle with the Council of Medical Schemes over how to account for the funds in members’ medical savings accounts (MSAs), a development that..
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