Cancer beatable but SA business must join the fight

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of disabilities and death worldwide, with more than 12 million people diagnosed with cancer and 7.6 million dying of the disease each year, according to figures released by the International Agency for Research on

According to Evodia Mosime, Case Manager at Liberty Corporate, there has been a marked increase in the prevalence of cancer cases in the past 6 years. “We are seeing more cancer claims for critical illness benefits which amount to an average of 41% of our critical illness book, looking at the period 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2011. The most common of these cancers are cervical and breast for females and prostate and malignant melanomas in males. It is for this reason that we urge our clients to visit their wellness centres, consult with their company doctors or private practitioners annually for routine examinations. Early detection of this condition can have a huge impact to the lives of our clients and South Africans at large.

In view of the above, it is becoming increasingly crucial for businesses in emerging markets such as South Africa not only to offer employee benefits such as medical aid, disability and critical illness benefits, but to also educate employees on the importance of understanding what their benefit offering is.

Commenting on the issue ahead of World Cancer Day on Saturday, February 4, Evodia says that having the appropriate cover in place can ensure some financial security when the disease strikes. The South African public is still experiencing tremendous challenges with regard to the medical infrastructure. Therefore while state hospitals may have excellent medical staff, there are still challenges with regard to the availability of treatment programs in some hospitals to effectively treat and manage this disease, particularly in remote areas. It is for this reason that businesses need to invest in cover such as critical illness/ dread disease benefits to ensure that employees can afford treatment and take control and ownership of their health.

Evodia says that the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme should eventually alleviate this problem, as state hospitals see their facilities upgraded, but as this is expected to be implemented in phases over a 14-year period, it remains vital for clients to ensure that they have comprehensive cover in place in the interim, especially given the statistics of cancer prevalence reported above.

Finally, as we salute, honour and celebrate the lives of many of our community members, friends and relatives who have lost their lives or are survivors of this disease, on Saturday, we should all remember that cancer is a very aggressive disease usually termed “the silent killer”. Symptoms usually only prevail with the progression of the disease.

We therefore encourage our South African public to do their annual checkups, mammograms, pap smears, prostate evaluations etc, as with early detection and the right risk benefits in place, more people can beat this disease and regain their lives.