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Prognosis for growth
Turning 25 years old is always a special occasion, but Matthew Stephens, CEO of Johannesburg-based Medhold Medical, is even more excited about what the next ten years will hold. Writer Susan Miller Project manager Eddie Clinton
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ohannesburg-based Medhold Medical is a leader in the Healthcare Device Industry. Part of the Medhold Group, it has been in business for 25 years and is expanding into SADC countries – with its latest outreach to Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is also repositioning itself for South Africa’s coming National Health Insurance scheme “which is being rolled out over the next 10 to 12 years,” CEO Matthew Stephens says. “Medhold will focus on supporting the state sector as government builds its hospital infrastructure, healthcare professionals, as well as working with the private hospital groups too,” he explains.
With over 20 years of experience in partnering with leading healthcare device suppliers in South Africa – of products ranging from life support equipment, such as anaesthesia machines and ICU ventilators to diathermy plates – Medhold is poised to increase its African expansion. A member of staff since 1996, Stephens notes a number of highlights, including its management buyout in 1998 when the business was “really, really small”. There was a commitment from management and staff which helped to turn the business around and they went on to make a number of acquisitions between 2004 and 2007. BBBEE (broad-based black economic empowerment) with its
yearly audits has been an interesting challenge – Medhold has a rating of four - as well as the building of partnerships with South Africa’s private hospital groups, “especially at the higher end of the device market,” Stephens says. He believes that one of Medhold’s strengths is its loyal staff and the open relationship the company has with them and so offers staff ownership options. “In 2008 we created the Medhold Employee Trust, which acquired 20 percent of the Medhold Group, which the existing owners/management funded.” The impact was immediate as staff members put in the extra effort for ‘their’ company.
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GE Healthcare in Africa With the advent of the first x-ray technology, GE Healthcare has been active in Africa for over 100 years, working with a range of healthcare providers to develop comprehensive solutions to uniquely African healthcare challenges. Through its broad portfolio and partnerships across Africa, GE is proud to offer a range of integrated healthcare systems, medical diagnostics, performance and healthcare IT solutions, to promote an earlier model of health. GE’s offerings include those designed to translate in both high and low resource areas and throughout the hospital setting to support better patient outcomes. Our diverse portfolio of radiology solutions enables quick and accurate diagnosis, providing improved levels of patient comfort, clinical confidence and connectivity, to help clinicians give a more human touch to healthcare delivery. Moreover, through GE’s global healthymagination initiative, we are at work to increase access to affordable, high quality innovations and technologies that contribute to a sustainable model of care.
“We think this plays to the company’s strengths: the importance we place on relationships with Medhold have been in clients, aftercare services and the the healthcare device partnerships we form with customers industry since 1987 and suppliers. Winning partnerships is critical for our business.” With that in mind, Medhold is approaching Zambia and Zimbabwe slightly differently, going directly into Zambia but partnering with a local company in Zimbabwe. That’s partly political, taking into account Zimbabwe’s Indigenisation Act which requires local businesses to own 51 percent of a company. However Stephens also stresses that having a partner will mitigate the risks and makes good business sense. While he is clear about the benefits of going into Africa, the company’s move into SADC came in 2009 after it began finding it harder to attract South African government business. And it made sense to move into the continent. “Our overseas suppliers wanted us to look over the border as well because they wanted to increase their footprint in Africa,” Stephens says. “So we made a strategic decision to invest in certain key growth markets despite the challenges they presented.” The Medhold Group has done business and various projects in countries including Mozambique, Botswana, Nigeria and Angola. Dealing with private businesses and governments, the company has found that after making an initial good impression,
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At GE we believe that a better model of healthcare is achievable only through collaboration and dialogue with our partners. In 2013 and beyond, with a commitment to nurturing long-term sustainable partnerships and developing solutions that address real areas of need, we are at work for a healthier Africa. Tel +27 11 653 8818 Email sophie.kasimatis@ge.com
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We made a strategic decision to invest in certain key growth markets despite the challenges they presented”
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Ferno Ferno is a global leader in the manufacture and distribution of emergency patient handling products We have over 3600 innovative, quality products in categories including ambulance cots, stair chairs, backboards, immobilization, search and rescue, oxygen and airway, and mortuary Our sales professionals and distributors are expertly trained to help you select the best product solutions for your needsi
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Our focus is to represent world leading brands, committed to research and development”
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Medhold offer a full range of services and equipment
Workers put in extra effort for ‘their’ company
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it’s about ‘word of mouth and promises kept’. So the focus has been on service, relationships and integrity as African stakeholders are prepared to pay for quality products and after-sale services, another Medhold strength. The company also concentrates on training and skills development, sending specialists into the SADC countries as well as bringing clients back to Johannesburg for ‘frontline training’. Sensitive and expensive medical equipment needs a lot of TLC and Stephens is adamant that Medhold must build up end users’ skills levels. Situating itself in the middle to high end of the market, it works with a number of suppliers from the U.S. and Europe and has a close relationship with GE Healthcare – Life Support Systems, Getinge Group – Infection Control and niche Maquet Surgical Workplace devices, Conmed Corporation – Electrosurgery and Ferno Washington – Emergency/ Rescue equipment. “Our focus is to represent world leading brands, committed to research and development, and thereby providing our customers with best of breed technology,” Stephens says.
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Selling equipment that lasts for 10 years rather than needing to be replaced every two to three years fits into Medhold’s ethos of partnerships. While very positive about the company’s future, Stephens is concerned about the current rand exchange rate and its devaluation against the major currencies. South Africa as an emerging market and part of BRICS is supposed to be ‘on the up’ but “just in the last month the rand has devalued probably 15 percent, which takes its toll in a price sensitive market,” Stephens says. While countries like Zambia and Zimbabwe have “incredible potential”, he believes that South Africa’s healthcare industry is a great space to be in specifically because of the proposed National Health Insurance Scheme and Private Sector building projects. Sounding like the partner we would all like to have, Stephens emphasises the lessons learnt over the last 25 years. “We’re in it for a long-term relationship,” he says. To learn more visit www.medhold.co.za.
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E n q u i r i es Tel (UK): +44 (0) 1603 559 151 Tel (SA): +27 (0) 21 527 0053 ben.weaver@outlookpublishing.com
S U B S CRI P TIO N S Tel (UK): +44 (0) 1603 559 144 ian.armitage@outlookpublishing.com
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68 Rigger Road Spartan Kempton Park Gauteng Tel: +27 (11) 975 0633 Fax: +27 (11) 975 3870 Email: info@medhold.co.za
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