Cancer cases on the rise in SA

Actuaries predict they will almost double by 2030

The WorldHealth Organisation says canceraccounted for nearly10-million deathsin 2020 globally. SA has not been immune from thistrend, with the incidencesof cancerrising considerablysince thebeginningof thepandemic,making it a major and growing public healthconcern.

Cancer diagnosis claims increasedby631% in2021and 2022, compared with 2019 and 2020 figures, saysSirago UnderwritingManagers.

Dr Dion Kapp, executive managerfor managedhealth care and providers at Bestmed MedicalScheme, saysthe numberof newcancerdiagnosesarealarming.

He saysthat understanding therealitiesofthediseaseisan importantstep towardsencouraging consumers to take preventiveaction.

“Frequent cancer screening and prevention remains the mosteffective methodofcurbing the economic, financial, physical and mental toll the disease takes onpeople of all ages, ethnicities and circumstances, includingthe high costs of treatmentthat become necessary whencancer isonly diagnosedat alate stage,” he says.

Like Sirago,Bestmed also recorded asteep increasein cancer incidences in recent years. Kappsays thereason for this is not an increase in screening or anyknown direct correlationbetweentheCovid19virusandcancer.

Rather, it’s aknock-on effect of Covid-19, especially during thehard lockdownwhenpeople avoidedvisiting hospitals or pathologists forfear of contractingthevirus.

Actuaries predict that cancerincidenceswillalmostdoubleinSAby2030,from62,000 cancer-related deathsin 2019

Lee Callakoppen, principal officer at Bonitas Medical Fund scribes medication, aligned to themembers optionandformulary and, if areferral to a specialistis required,the member is referred to a networkspecialist. Wehavenegotiated rateson behalfof our memberswith networkspecialiststo avoidco-payments. Should themember require hospitaladmission, ourspecialists will admit them to a networkhospital toavoidfurther co-payments,” says Callakoppen. cancers in SA.Though this is nothing new, we are seeing comparatively higher numbers for this period, indicating that many ofthese incidences could havebeen detectedtwo yearsago,”hesays. to121,000 insevenyears, based on existing mortality trends with thenumbers impacted by anageing and growingpopulation.

Rapid urbanisationas peoplemovecloser tojobopportunitiesmeans that63% ofSouth Africans already live in urban areas.Thedownsideofurbanisation, says Callakoppen, is a negativeimpact onpeople’s health,themostsignificantbeingan increaseinnon-communicableorlifestylediseases.

“More frequentscreening testsgive peopleabetter chanceofbeingdiagnosedearlier,thus makingtreatment moreeffective.

Thetotal benefitspaidby Bestmed towards oncology treatmentincreased by47%in 2022.

The biggest contributor of this escalation, saysKapp, was biological medicationand immunotherapy. The cost increasefor thesetwotherapies alonewas31%.

In response,Bonitas introducedEdge plans,which Callakoppenbelieves arethe mostinnovativeinthecountry, while remaining affordable. Edgeplans,he says,areaimed atnewentrants totheworkplace, economically active singles or couples, living in the largermetros,agedbetween18 and 35.They aredriven by technology and easeof access through virtual integration anddigitalintervention.

Two Edgeplans areavailable BonStart and BonStart Plus bothdistinct intheir scope andpopular, withmore than10,000livescovered.Both planshave monthlycontributions, for theprincipal member,ofunderR1,350.Contributions decreasedin 2022while nocontribution increasewas implementedin2023.

These predictions align with data collected by Bestmed which show steep increases across allpredominant types of cancerbetween 2020and 2022, with breastcancer increasing by 35%and prostate cancerby45%.

“Breastand prostatecancer remainthe dominanttypesof

Radiology-related claims also increased, with advanced radiology such asMRI, CAT scans andnuclear medicine used to monitorand diagnose cancer increasing by 19% in 2022,compared topre-pandemiclevels.

Kapp attributesthe biggest driver ofincreased cancer treatmentcosts toadvancedstagecancerdiagnoses.

“Latediagnoses oftenresult inthe prescriptionofmore novelmedicines totreatcan- cers more aggressively, which are more expensive. This is why it’sso importantthatindividuals reach outto their medical aidscheme tofind out which preventive screenings suchas mammograms,pap smearsandprostateexamsare availabletothem.”

Bestmed like most medicalschemes offers anumber of preventivehealth benefits that memberscan access, along withvarious oncology care benefits depending on theirselectedplan.

Flexicare is a health insurance product for South Africans that provides reasonably priced private day-to-day healthcare cover distributed through the Clicks retail network. It is not a medical scheme, nor is it intended to be a substitute for medical scheme membership. Flexicare has been available to Clicks employees since 2018, and for the first time ever, it is now available to our Clicks customers.

“We are pleased to partner with Discovery Health and Auto & General Insurance to make private healthcare cover easily available and affordable for everyone, with the added benefit of cashback in your pocket,” says Vikash Singh, Clicks Managing Executive. “This forms part of our continued commitment to providing great value, convenience and rewards for our customers.”

Flexicare is available to all our Clicks customers, but our ClubCard members earn the right to a unique loyalty benefit. When they choose Flexicare using a simple four-step digital purchasing process, they can earn 10% ClubCard cashback on their premium. For an average family of four, this amounts to R129.30 in monthly ClubCard cashback that can be used at any Clicks or The Body Shop nationwide.

Why Flexicare for our ClubCard members?

Discovery Health’s research demonstrates that there are five to eight million South African residents in formal employment who do not have medical aid. Yet, they already utilise the private healthcare sector for their primary healthcare needs and are paying out of pocket for each consultation and prescribed medication, for each point of entry.

Flexicare is a product of Auto & General Insurance Company Limited, administered by Discovery Health, and designed to provide access to private healthcare services from only R435 per month. The benefits include unlimited GP consultations, medicine, dentistry, eye care, x-rays, flu vaccines, maternity, health checks, blood tests, procedures in GP rooms, HIV care and private ambulance service, with an optional add-on of trauma cover at a private hospital (for an additional fee from R174). Trauma cover, underwritten by Discovery Insure, provides additional private emergency healthcare services for the individual and all registered beneficiaries for a range of serious events including burns, car accidents, and serious head or chest injuries to name a few.

“This partnership brings a truly innovative, integrated healthcare product to the public, and most importantly broadens availability and affordability of private healthcare to more South Africans,” says Ricardo Coetzee, Head of Auto & General.

“Our research and experience have proven the importance of creating easy-to-understand healthcare products. Having affordable cover also means ensuring that people never have to pay out of pocket or face hidden costs. Flexicare is provided through a suite of world-class digital tools so that people can manage their membership and retrieve their benefits on the go,” says Nonku Pitje, Chief Growth Officer at Discovery Health.

“Flexicare reflects our commitment to expand cover to millions more South Africans, and it’s made possible by the strengths of excellent partners who share this vision. We can’t wait to make a significant impact on people’s lives through Flexicare and through our network of dedicated healthcare providers,” she added.