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Appeal Board ruling clarifies application of section 59(2) of the Medical Schemes Act

09 December 2016 | Medical Schemes

The ruling by the Appeal Board to dismiss a claim lodged by a medical doctor against the South African Police Service Medical Scheme (POLMED) (appellant) has helped to provide clarity on the application of section 59(2) of the Medical Schemes Act, 131 of 1998 (MSA). The section states that when there is a benefit owing to a member, the scheme has the right to pay either the member or the service provider directly within 30 days after the claim was received by the scheme. This interpretation had been confirmed by the High Court previously, but a recent judgment concerning claims submitted to a liquidated scheme created confusion in the industry as to whether the scheme has a discretion to elect who to pay, following a claim.

Cape Town sees launch of new integrative cancer facility

09 December 2016 | General

According to the SA Medical Research Council, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer in SA accounting for 17% of all cancer deaths. This is followed by oesophagus, which accounts for 13%, cervix accounting for 8%, breast accounting for 8% and liver, which accounts for 6% of all cancers. And, while new technologies and research proves increasingly promising, there is little sign that lifestyle factors will diminish these figures. Cancer.org also estimates that by 2030, the global cancer burden is expected to nearly double, growing to 21.4 million cases and 13.2 million deaths. And while that increase is the result of demographic changes – a growing and aging population – it may be compounded by the adoption of unhealthy lifestyles and behaviors related to economic development, such as smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity.

South Africans urged to prepare for possible medical emergencies while on holiday

07 December 2016 | General

When travelling, either in the county or across the South African borders, one of the most stressful situations a traveller can experience is a medical emergency. Sometimes for those travelling to a foreign country, having medical emergency assistance services can mean the difference between life and death.

BHF workshop highlights student visa concerns

01 December 2016 | General

Representatives from various Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries have appealed to the South African government to revise some of its students’ visa requirements, which they say affect students ‘adversely’.

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If you had to hazard a guess, when do you reckon the COFI Bill will be signed into law?

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2026, as promised 2027 looks more likely Impossible to say More consultation needed

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