Bringing primary healthcare services to campus staff

The old adage says that prevention is better than cure, and this is one of the key goals behind the Dis-Chem Wellness Centre, launched by the University of Cape Town (UCT), together with medical insurance, Kaelo, and PSG. A fresh take on a clinic originally launched in 2019, the thinking is to offer fundamental health screenings and vaccinations towards preventative health and wellness, and access to affordable healthcare through clinic services and a virtual doctor to Kaelo members.

There is also a well-stocked mini Dis-Chem store and Dis-Chem pharmacy depot open to all, and medicine scripts from external doctors will be dispensed.

“This facility opens a new chapter in UCT’s ongoing efforts to be the employer of choice for all our staff members,” said Vice Chancellor interim Emeritus Professor Daya Reddy, in a welcoming address to the assembled Coalition of Unions members, and invited human resources, PSG, Kaelo and Dis-Chem representatives.

“In particular, UCT is committed to promoting access to affordable healthcare for colleagues in pay classes two to six, who have limited resources for this important expense. This clinic makes it possible for our colleagues to access healthcare without having to leave campus. It is convenient, as well as cost effective.”

The clinic, fronted by the shop, is situated at the lower end of the Graça Machel Complex on Baxter Road, with ready access to UCT shuttles. Having cut the ribbon, it officially opened its doors on Monday, 25 March.

It is all about easy access to healthcare

“This is an important day for us in sourcing primary healthcare for pay classes two to six,” said Athabile Nonxuba, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, which represents unions Democratised Transport Logistics and Allied Workers Union (DETAWU); National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU); and UCT Employees Union (EU).

“This pay class includes some of our oldest workforce members, who often work under difficult conditions in such roles as cleaners, or gardeners, who work in the wet and cold of winter, so access to healthcare is fundamental, particularly when a visit to a GP can cost R500.”

The launch was the culmination of a review of primary healthcare benefits and onsite services by the Coalition of Unions in 2023. They compared service providers by looking at such measures as contributions, provider demographics and primary healthcare benefits.

“Access to primary healthcare is so important and UCT and the coalition took it upon themselves to meaningfully provide high-quality private healthcare to the people of UCT.”

“Access to primary healthcare is so important and UCT and the coalition took it upon themselves to meaningfully provide high-quality private healthcare to the people of UCT,” said Marianna Borges, the group chief client officer at Kaelo. “High-end healthcare is now immediately accessible onsite.”

Nonxuba expressed his gratitude to the Kaelo team, saying it was not easy to find a provider to engage with the services needed, and to understand and serve UCT members with care and diligence.

Services on offer

“From a clinical point of view, we offer affordable, accessible full primary healthcare services, with a particular focus on preventative care: screenings and vaccines,” said Joha-Nita Jordaan, the clinical divisional manager at Dis-Chem Pharmacies.

“The idea is to get people into primary healthcare services so that should there be any health issues, they can be picked up before they escalate. We are also seeing chronic and acute illnesses.”

The convenience and cost-effectiveness of screenings for health issues best picked up early is particularly meaningful given these can escalate if undetected due to difficulties of access to screenings geographically, financially or on workdays.

The clinic offers a nursing practitioner on duty from 08:00 to 16:00 on weekdays, and a virtual doctor is on call. Last year a former iteration of the clinic was open for half days.

The preventative, proactive and reactive services will include screening of chronic medical diseases; emergency medical care; illness and disease treatment; tests for wellness, such as blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol and HIV; immunisation; and female health screening such as papsmear and breast examination; as well as contraception management.

The Dis-Chem pharmacy can fulfil medical scripts, and the shop stocks access to self-medications, and a wide range of products from nappies, to soaps, feminine hygiene products and snacks and drinks. Members of Kaelo can choose to include their rewards benefit, Extra by Dis-Chem, as part of their Lifestyle Benefits, which offers members a 20% discount on over 2 500 products at Dis-Chem.