New Busamed partnership delivers hope

A groundbreaking new public-private partnership between the Busamed Hospital Group, KZN provincial government and Arthroplasty Solutions Trust, will ensure that more people from less privileged backgrounds have access to much needed arthroplasty surgeries at a fraction of the cost.

Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Nomusa Dube-Ncube joined Busamed Hillcrest Private Hospital to officially launch the partnership which took root in March, with 10 patients having already benefited.

The project was formed to help thousands of South Africans, some who have waited several years on a list of approximately 1 200 patients to be treated. The Industrial Development Zone committed seed grant funding enabling the partners – KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, Busamed and Arthroplasty Solutions Trust – to demonstrate and advance the value proposition potential of the project.

Patients are taken from the waiting list at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH), pre-operative work gets done at IALCH, and Busamed collects the patients from IALCH, an initiative that accommodates previously disadvantaged people, solely reliant on the state sector for their health, and low-income earners who do not have the luxury of medical aid.

Surgeries will be performed on at least two patients every week, for 50 out of the 52 weeks in a year, bringing the total of joint replacements done per year to approximately 100. The total cost (global fee) to do a hip or knee replacement in the private sector is about R153 000 per patient. However, through this partnership, the cost will be reduced by about 44%.

Speaking at the launch the Premier said, “On behalf of the provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal and the people of this province, I wish to express our delight at being part of the launch of this life changing initiative. This medical procedure will certainly improve the lives of countless individuals. Whether it’s the hip, knee, shoulder, or other joints, this surgery offers a new lease on life, restoring mobility, reducing pain, and enabling individuals to reclaim their independence and participate actively in the economy,” said Premier Dube-Ncube. She said this partnership would assist the government to reduce the backlog of patients waiting for low-risk hip or knee replacement surgery.

The Premier applauded the vision, compassion and generosity of the lead Busamed arthroplasty surgeon Dr Michiel Ter Haar, who has offered this surgery without charge. “When skilled surgeons, led by Dr Ter Haar, offer arthroplasty surgery pro bono for our people, they’re not just performing a medical procedure; they’re igniting a spark of hope, catalyzing positive change in the lives of our people,” the Premier said.