{"id":175280,"date":"2025-08-21T12:56:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T12:56:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/?p=175280"},"modified":"2025-08-23T10:11:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T10:11:12","slug":"point-of-view-the-importance-of-healthcare-quality-for-everyone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/builder\/point-of-view-the-importance-of-healthcare-quality-for-everyone\/","title":{"rendered":"Point of view: the importance of healthcare quality for everyone"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post<\/a> was originally published on this site<\/a><\/p>

<\/p>\n

As someone who\u2019s spent years immersed in the world of consumer advocacy and healthcare communication, I\u2019ve come to appreciate the power of data, not just as numbers on a page, but as stories about real people navigating our health system.<\/p>\n

The latest Health Quality Assessment (HQA) results for 2024 offer exactly that: a snapshot of how South Africa\u2019s private healthcare sector is performing when it comes to prevention, early detection, and chronic disease management.<\/p>\n

These findings aren\u2019t just for policymakers or scheme executives. They\u2019re for all of us, the parents booking vaccinations, the young professionals managing chronic conditions, the daughters urging their mothers to go for mammograms. Because behind every percentage point is a person, and behind every missed screening is a missed opportunity to intervene early.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with something close to home: diabetes care<\/strong>. HbA1c testing, which tracks average blood sugar levels over three months, is critical for managing diabetes and preventing complications like kidney failure, heart disease, and stroke. The data shows that since 2010, coverage for at least one test per year has climbed impressively, with some schemes nearing 90%. But clinical guidelines recommend two tests annually, and that\u2019s where we still see variation. It\u2019s a reminder that consistency matters, not just ticking a box.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s HIV viral load testing<\/strong>, newly added to public reporting this year. For people living with HIV, regular testing isn\u2019t just about their health; it\u2019s about preventing transmission and keeping communities safe. Yet, according to the data, only 85% of those on treatment had a test last year, down from 95% in 2015. That\u2019s not just a dip in data, it\u2019s a signal that we need to refocus our efforts. HIV care in South Africa has come a long way, and we can\u2019t afford to lose momentum.<\/p>\n

One stat that really made me pause was the Caesarean section rate<\/strong>. The WHO recommends a rate of 10-15% for medically necessary cases. Ours? Over 70%. That\u2019s not just a number, it\u2019s a conversation we need to have about informed choices, maternal health, and what\u2019s best for our babies. According to the data, research shows that elective C-sections scheduled before 39 weeks can carry risks for both mother and child, from respiratory issues to long-term developmental concerns. We need to empower expectant parents with balanced information, not just convenience-driven options.<\/p>\n

Breast cancer screening<\/strong> is another area where we\u2019re doing okay, but could do better. The results show that only about 21-25% of eligible women had a mammogram in the past two years. Some schemes are pushing above 40%, which is encouraging. But here\u2019s the kicker: most schemes cover<\/em> mammograms. So why aren\u2019t more women getting them? Maybe it\u2019s a lack of awareness, maybe it\u2019s fear. Either way, we need to talk about it more, in our WhatsApp groups, at church, at work. Early detection saves lives.<\/p>\n

And what about our elders<\/strong>? Flu vaccination rates for those over 65 have more than doubled since 2010, from 8% to 21%. That\u2019s progress, but still far from ideal. My own mother didn\u2019t know her flu shot was covered until I told her. That\u2019s the thing, benefits mean nothing if people don\u2019t know they exist. We need to make preventive care part of everyday conversation, not just something we remember when we\u2019re already ill.<\/p>\n

Colorectal cancer screening<\/strong> is another area where awareness campaigns are starting to pay off. Colonoscopy rates have climbed from 7% to 12% in the past decade, with some schemes reaching 25%. It\u2019s not glamorous, but it\u2019s life-saving. And with younger adults increasingly affected, we can\u2019t afford to ignore it. Screening helps catch cancer early and remove pre-cancerous polyps before they become a threat.<\/p>\n

The fact is, there are less invasive colon cancer screening tests available, which can even be requested by a patient’s general practitioner. One of these is a stool test called FOBT (faecal occult blood test), and its utilisation in the at-risk age group is lower than it should ideally be. The colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy screening mentioned earlier is a great tool for detection, and is often used when a problem is flagged by another test, like FOBT. But in reality, many people only undergo scopes once symptoms appear, not proactively for screening. That\u2019s why it would be even better if more at-risk individuals opted for an FOBT. It\u2019s simple, accessible, and could make a real difference in catching cancer early.<\/p>\n

What I appreciate most about the HQA report is that it\u2019s not just a data dump. It\u2019s a call to action. It shows that when schemes voluntarily measure quality, they perform better. That\u2019s not just theory, it\u2019s backed by international studies. And it\u2019s why I believe we need to keep pushing for transparency, accountability, and value-based care.<\/p>\n

Because at the end of the day, healthcare isn\u2019t just about hospitals and pills. It\u2019s about dignity. It\u2019s about making sure every Rand spent on our health actually works<\/em> for us. And it\u2019s about making sure no one, whether they\u2019re living with HIV, managing diabetes, expecting a baby, or just trying to stay well, falls through the cracks.<\/p>\n

So next time you get a reminder for a screening or a vaccine, don\u2019t ignore it. Ask questions. Use your benefits. And if something doesn\u2019t feel right, speak up. Because quality healthcare isn\u2019t a luxury, it\u2019s a right. And we all have a role to play in making sure it delivers.<\/p>\n

* Maleke is the editor of Persona Finance.<\/em><\/p>\n

PERSONAL FINANCE<\/em><\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As someone who\u2019s spent years immersed in the world of consumer advocacy and healthcare communication, I\u2019ve come to appreciate the power of data, not just as numbers on a page, but as stories about real people navigating our health system.The latest Health Quality Assessment (HQA) results for 2024 offer exactly that: a snapshot of how South Africa\u2019s private healthcare sector is performing when it comes to prevention, early detection, and chronic disease management.These findings aren\u2019t just for policymakers or scheme executives. They\u2019re for all of us, the parents booking vaccinations, the young professionals managing chronic conditions, the daughters urging their mothers to go for mammograms. Because behind every percentage point is a person, and behind every missed screening is a missed opportunity to intervene early.Let\u2019s start with something close to home: diabetes care. HbA1c testing, which tracks average blood sugar levels over three months, is critical for managing diabetes and preventing complications like kidney failure, heart disease, and stroke. The data shows that since 2010, coverage for at least one test per year has climbed impressively, with some schemes nearing 90%. But clinical guidelines recommend two tests annually, and that\u2019s where we still see variation. It\u2019s a reminder that consistency matters, not just ticking a box.Then there\u2019s HIV viral load testing, newly added to public reporting this year. For people living with HIV, regular testing isn\u2019t just about their health; it\u2019s about preventing transmission and keeping communities safe. Yet, according to the data, only 85% of those on treatment had a test last year, down from 95% in 2015. That\u2019s not just a dip in data, it\u2019s a signal that we need to refocus our efforts. HIV care in South Africa has come a long way, and we can\u2019t afford to lose momentum.One stat that really made me pause was the Caesarean section rate. The WHO recommends a rate of 10-15% for medically necessary cases. Ours? Over 70%. That\u2019s not just a number, it\u2019s a conversation we need to have about informed choices, maternal health, and what\u2019s best for our babies. According to the data, research shows that elective C-sections scheduled before 39 weeks can carry risks for both mother and child, from respiratory issues to long-term developmental concerns. We need to empower expectant parents with balanced information, not just convenience-driven options.Breast cancer screening is another area where we\u2019re doing okay, but could do better. The results show that only about 21-25% of eligible women had a mammogram in the past two years. Some schemes are pushing above 40%, which is encouraging. But here\u2019s the kicker: most schemes cover mammograms. So why aren\u2019t more women getting them? Maybe it\u2019s a lack of awareness, maybe it\u2019s fear. Either way, we need to talk about it more, in our WhatsApp groups, at church, at work. Early detection saves lives.And what about our elders? Flu vaccination rates for those over 65 have more than doubled since 2010, from 8% to 21%. That\u2019s progress, but still far from ideal. My own mother didn\u2019t know her flu shot was covered until I told her. That\u2019s the thing, benefits mean nothing if people don\u2019t know they exist. We need to make preventive care part of everyday conversation, not just something we remember when we\u2019re already ill.Colorectal cancer screening is another area where awareness campaigns are starting to pay off. Colonoscopy rates have climbed from 7% to 12% in the past decade, with some schemes reaching 25%. It\u2019s not glamorous, but it\u2019s life-saving. And with younger adults increasingly affected, we can\u2019t afford to ignore it. Screening helps catch cancer early and remove pre-cancerous polyps before they become a threat.The fact is, there are less invasive colon cancer screening tests available, which can even be requested by a patient’s general practitioner. One of these is a stool test called FOBT (faecal occult blood test), and its utilisation in the at-risk age group is lower than it should ideally be. The colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy screening mentioned earlier is a great tool for detection, and is often used when a problem is flagged by another test, like FOBT. But in reality, many people only undergo scopes once symptoms appear, not proactively for screening. That\u2019s why it would be even better if more at-risk individuals opted for an FOBT. It\u2019s simple, accessible, and could make a real difference in catching cancer early.What I appreciate most about the HQA report is that it\u2019s not just a data dump. It\u2019s a call to action. It shows that when schemes voluntarily measure quality, they perform better. That\u2019s not just theory, it\u2019s backed by international studies. And it\u2019s why I believe we need to keep pushing for transparency, accountability, and value-based care.Because at the end of the day, healthcare isn\u2019t just about hospitals and pills. It\u2019s about dignity. It\u2019s about making sure every Rand spent on our health actually works for us. And it\u2019s about making sure no one, whether they\u2019re living with HIV, managing diabetes, expecting a baby, or just trying to stay well, falls through the cracks.So next time you get a reminder for a screening or a vaccine, don\u2019t ignore it. Ask questions. Use your benefits. And if something doesn\u2019t feel right, speak up. Because quality healthcare isn\u2019t a luxury, it\u2019s a right. And we all have a role to play in making sure it delivers.* Maleke is the editor of Persona Finance.PERSONAL FINANCE<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":175282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-175280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-builder"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175280","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=175280"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175280\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":175281,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175280\/revisions\/175281"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/175282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=175280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=175280"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=175280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}