The world continues its path to recovery from COVID-19, and fortunately, South Africa is no exception to this. COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the healthcare sector, but we are fortunately entering an objectively measured ‘post-COVID’ era.
Before we lose sight of the end goal, we need to keep our finger on the pulse of this transition, knowing full well that it has significant implications for healthcare in our country – both private and public.
As a medical scheme administrator looking after over 3 million members, we have been monitoring the post-COVID-19 healthcare trends in South Africa very closely. Through the provision of administration and/or managed care services to our 14 clients, including some of the country’s largest medical schemes like GEMS, Bonitas and Fedhealth, we have access to a wealth of data from which we can draw some valuable insights.
The first of these data trends are clear: we are now operating in what we can safely call the ‘post-COVID’ era. COVID-19 tests, admissions and deaths are now a small percentage of their past peaks, However, while these COVID-19 claims are no longer a dominant category for schemes, they bear a lasting impact on the way healthcare is delivered.
The post-COVID data we’re seeing suggests that people are slowly returning to hospitals for non-COVID-related treatments, although this trend has not been consistent across all healthcare specialties. Overall, non-COVID-19 admission rates have not returned to pre-COVID levels, although some notable categories have returned such as Cataract and Tonsil procedures. Interestingly, categories like mental health, have far exceeded their pre-COVID levels – which may be a symptom of the pandemic, but perhaps a broader unveiling of an issue that already lay festering under the surface.
A concern during the pandemic was that members would not take up preventative testing such as Mammograms, which could increase downstream costs. The data confirms that, preventative testing did decline during the pandemic, but coverage has largely recovered.
The pandemic has stimulated a shift in the methods of healthcare delivery. There is clear evidence of more widespread use of Day Clinics, Virtual and telephonic consultations, and treatments at home instead of at the hospital.
With acute facilities being avoided or shut down during the lockdowns, day clinics became a safer and viable alternative for patients. As a result, whilst admissions at acute facilities fell drastically in 2020, day clinic admission rates remained relatively stable. Furthermore, they have witnessed a surge since then, and this trend has continued even as hospital availability bounced back.
In fact, since 2019, the share of admissions going to day clinics has increased from 5% to over 7% in 2023. Healthcare funders also integrated strategies to support this trend through scheme benefit designs and tariff negotiations. While the pandemic may have been the catalyst for this change, day clinics are emerging as a preferred option among many patients, who appreciate the convenience, affordability, and quality of care provided. The healthcare industry must embrace this trend and focus on creating sustainable healthcare models that can continue to deliver comprehensive and personalised care in day facilities.
With the emergence of COVID-19, healthcare providers have had to adapt their approaches for managing patients. Telehealth became an essential tool for providing care, allowing patients to access medical advice and treatment from the safety of their own homes. Although its use hasn’t reached the levels of advanced economies such as the United States, it is clearly here to stay even as we move away from the pandemic phase of COVID-19.
In conclusion, while the pandemic certainly had many detrimental effects on healthcare in South Africa, it has also led to many positive changes. As our transition into a post-COVID environment continues, many aspects of healthcare will need to continue to adapt accordingly.
Our focus has always been on ensuring scheme members receive the best possible care. We must continue to monitor healthcare trends closely, understand how our members' healthcare needs are changing, and work towards optimally meeting those needs in a post-COVID-19 world.