Company news: Off-shore business growth spells healthcare risk

One of the greatest, yet more unexpected challenges faced by intrepid businesses eying new markets, are the healthcare needs and risks faced by employees being deployed elsewhere in the world.

“Companies wishing to expand abroad will benefit substantially by taking proactive steps in ensuring that the healthcare and general well-being of employees, and their families, being deployed into new areas often far from home are receiving due attention,” says Dr Jaco Folmer, Medical Director Netcare Travel Clinics.

Folmer strongly cautions international business travellers about the health risks associated with travel. “Overseas travel poses health risks to employees travelling to and from these countries, whether as part of a business visit, short-term assignment or long term expatriate programme. It is worth pointing out that a vast proportion of the health risks experienced by travellers can be prevented by pre-travel medical screening and interventions,” asserts Dr Folmer. “When it comes to infectious diseases such as Malaria and Yellow Fever there are obviously considerable risks involved for travellers. However, education programmes spearheaded by companies such as Netcare Travel Clinics have created considerable awareness amongst private and business travellers.

According to Folmer, statistics indicate that pre-existing healthcare conditions can lead to high risks for those travelling and spending lengthy periods away from their home base. “For example, at between 50 – 70% cardiac disease represents by far the highest cause of death in travellers. Trauma, including motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents, homicide and suicide jointly accounts for 20 to 25% of fatalities. Infectious diseases such as malaria, on the other hand, impact between three and five percent of travellers while medical diseases and conditions such as asthma, diabetes, burst appendix etc should also be taken into consideration.

“As a leading travel health information and vaccination provider in South Africa, Netcare Travel Clinics have in recent times significantly expanded their service offering to corporate clients. Nowadays evaluation services and the rendering of advice and guidance to companies in order to ensure “that the right person is sent to the right destination with the correct safety measures in place” make up a tremendous portion of our service offering. In this way employers can ensure that their staff remain safe and productive while away from home,” says Folmer.

The Netcare Travel Clinic service involves the evaluation of each travelling employee. In the case of expatriates our service extends to the families of employees as well. “We evaluate everything from the risks posed by the destination itself which includes anything from malaria, yellow fever, trauma to medical facilities. A medical risk analysis, on the other hand, probes the risk of employees in terms of cardiac conditions, chronic conditions, current medication and availability at the destination, and psychological problems to mention but a few. Cognisance is even taken of risks pertaining to the occupation such as a different occupational environment and considerable fluctuations in temperature. “An employee must not only be fit for the proposed deployment but for the deployment in a foreign setting. Fitness, on the other hand implies physical, psychological and social fitness,” explains Dr Folmer.

Because of the growing need for business travel and occupational health travel services, a new Netcare Travel Clinic dedicated to the specific needs of the corporate traveller has opened its doors this week at the Medicross Family Medical and Dental Centre in Silverton, Pretoria.

The branch, which is an extension of the existing Netcare Travel Clinic Jakaranda, will provide Occupational Health and travel medicine services to companies in need of a more comprehensive travel management service. Pretoria based companies deploying personnel into Africa and elsewhere in the world will find the service particularly useful in securing sound travel advice, vaccines and healthcare assessment services in close proximity and all under a single roof!

Netcare Travel Clinics

Website: www.travelclinic.co.za

Linksfield Park Hospital
Tel nr: 011 647 3654

Rivonia
Tel nr 011 802 0059

Boksburg Medicross
Tel nr 011 898 6520

Jakaranda Hospital
Tel nr: 012 421 6805

Cape Town
Tel nr: 021 419 3172

Blaauwberg Hospital
Tel nr: 021 554 9296

Silverton Medicross
Tel nr: 012 845 1300

Affiliated Netcare Travel Clinics:

Pinetown Medicross
Tel nr: 031 709 3070

Port Elizabeth Medicross
Tel nr: 041 374 7471

Potchefstroom Medicross
Tel nr: 018 293 7800

Tokai Medicross
Tel nr: 021 715 7063