THE introduction of Cheiron Health Technologies into the Sechaba Medical Solutions stable last April has greatly strengthened the medical aid administrator's arm, according to CEO Thokozani Magwaza.

He says "It allowed us to leverage off .synergies between administration and managed care functionalities and has also significantly broadened our product base to clients."

It is a relationship that has matured since Cheiron first introduced the unique internationally acclaimed state-of-the-art Epic system, which has been specifically customised to meet the needs of the complex South African healthcare environment.

The system, which provides healthcare software solutions for more than 110-million lives worldwide, is designed to manage integrated delivery systems, managed care organisations, medical groups and hospitals with large ambulatory care environments.

It is essentially a capitation system with adaptations and conversion capabilities to a fee-for-service.
Sechaba was quick to invest in the system and the subsequent synergies between the two companies made a merger inevitable, says Magwaza.

The country's first 100 percent black medical aid administrator is now well positioned to play a significant role in offering healthcare service delivery across the board, according to its CEO.

"We incorporate modern clinical intelligence into relevant care processes within the administration system. It ensures continuous efficiencies and provides a beneficiary-centric approach as opposed to a programme or disease management one.

"This assists in continuously improving efficiencies and identifying and proactively managing clinical and financial risks of identifiable health risks.

"The net result - balanced healthcare costs, improved general wellness, and proactively managed health risks makes us one of South Africa's best medical aid administrators."

Magwaza adds, "Sechaba is particularly well placed to adapt to a changing marketplace."

Loraine Tulleken: Business Report, 28 May 2010