Sechaba introduces its new HIV/AIDS Well-Care programme

Dr Tumi Seane, Managed Care Services Executive at Sechaba Medical Solutions

Sechaba Medical Solutions, South Africa’s first 100% black-owned medical scheme administrator, is proud to introduce its new comprehensive HIV programme, Sechaba Well-Care.

Responding to the call made by the Ministry of Health earlier in the year, Sechaba made the decision to reposition its HIV programme with the aim of becoming a major role player in HIV/AIDS management in South Africa.

The revised and rebranded programme ensures that Sechaba is now well positioned to render a professional service to the workplace/human resource/capital departments at companies, insurers and within the medical aid environment.

The Well-Care programme includes early identification of HIV which ensures optimal and sound clinical intervention in the early stages. The programme also promotes control of the disease by making treatment available and accessible as well as making sure affected members fully understand the medical aid HIV benefits.

“We believe HIV/AIDS is manageable and through the programme we can contribute significantly to the fight against this epidemic,” says Dr Tumi Seane, Managed Care Services Executive at Sechaba Medical Solutions. “There are numerous benefits to joining the Sechaba Well-Care Programme. Besides giving access to healthcare benefits that cover the cost of HIV/AIDS-related treatments such as anti-retroviral medicines (ARVs) and blood tests, it also gives access to professional and fully-trained well-care managers. These managers provide counselling, advice and support, a confidential helpline and links to other wellness and healthcare management programmes,” he adds.

Sechaba will be taking its programme to the public through wellness campaigns at client companies. “We identify certain pay points within our client schemes and visit those environments by invitation or initiate events ourselves to promote healthy living in general. Through these avenues we hope to get the word out there that we have a programme specifically aimed at assisting those living with HIV/AIDS. But we also aim to promote wellness and our other programmes such as our comprehensive chronic disease management programmes,” says Seane.

All Sechaba’s managed care initiatives help contain costs for members and the schemes within its fold. It believes that empowered, educated and informed members take care of themselves and their health. Coupled with that, Sechaba’s IT system efficiencies make sure member benefits are properly allocated. “We continuously develop and maintain good relationships with the providers and make sure they understand patient benefits,” says Seane. The combination of informed members and providers on the one hand and efficiency of its systems on the other is a powerful tool in managed care that assists Sechaba in managing cost.

“The introduction of our Well-Care programme is another step forward for Sechaba and its members. We have the health and wellbeing of every single member at heart and will continue to do everything in our power to promote healthy living through our Well-Care programme. This way we can ensure our members remain economically active and continue to contribute to South Africa’s communities,” he concludes.

The revamped programme was recently launched at the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) conference. Sechaba pledged money to an HIV charity on behalf of interested delegates. Close to R8000.00 was raised which will be donated in support of the programme’s launch.