Tag: healthcare

Obsidian Systems was approached by a leading South African healthcare solutions provider to optimise its customer complaints system that was wholly reliant on email which resulted in service delays and a negative end user experience.

As the number of confirmed Coronavirus COVID-19 cases rise every day in South Africa, many people are wondering whether they’ll get adequate medical attention should they be diagnosed with the virus.

The circular released on the 10th April 2020 by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) entitled 'COVID-19 Medical Schemes Industry Guidelines' outlines the relief measures which schemes may offer their members – individuals and employer groups – detailing what they can and can’t do to alleviate the economic suffering during this pandemic and lockdown period.

South Africa has been on lockdown for more than a week. Integral to the lockdown regulations are the forced closures of businesses that are not deemed 'essential' by government.

As South Africans face the reality of a 21-day lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, working from home has become the 'new normal' overnight – and if properly managed, it can be just as productive as being in the office. South African companies now join millions of businesses across the globe forced to learn fast and on-the-job how to manage a completely remote workforce.

While people who contract COVID-19 (corona virus) who are under the age of 80 and do not have any pre-existing conditions - such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, hypertension or cancer - are most likely to experience only flu-like symptoms, those who are over 80 years’ of age or individuals with pre-existing conditions are certainly at a much greater risk.

With thousands of cases reported, and the World Health Organisation declaring it a global health emergency, the coronavirus has been making headlines.

Speaking in KwaZulu-Natal on New Year’s Day, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said that the National Health Insurance (NHI) will put private and public hospitals on par with each other. Indeed, rather than improving the quality of care on offer in the public sector, it’s more likely that, by effectively nationalising them, the NHI will reduce the quality of care at private facilities. 

Painting classrooms and box ticking charitable endeavours are fast becoming a thing of the past. Instead, it’s time for corporate social investment (CSI) to take its place in the boardroom and for companies to see it as an integral part of their future business plans.

In celebration of DHL’s fiftieth anniversary as a world-leading delivery company, former CEO of DHL - Ken Allen – shares the inspiring story of his journey to the top of the industry in his recently launched memoir, Radical Simplicity. The book demonstrates how simplicity successfully transformed a loss-making mega brand into a world-class performer.