These include four of the largest closed medical schemes in South Africa: namely Bankmed, the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS), POLMED and Transmed Medical Fund. Among MHG's blue-chip corporate clients are Afrox, Engen, BP, the Foschini Group, Pick ‘n Pay and Woolworths.
Metropolitan Health Group CEO, Blum Khan, attributes the company's success to its ability to provide large scale administration efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
“One factor has been our commitment to streamline and improve our administration,” he said. “We have cut non-healthcare costs while improving the level of service to our clients.”
MHG has employed some very smart thinking and in addition to an investment in cutting-edge technologies such as sms technology has been able to find efficient and cost-effective ways to interact with its members.
For the fifth year in succession, the International Service Auditor Review standard has declared MHG's general computer control environment compliant with international best practice.
“Our ability to effectively manage our burgeoning data and drill down into it for greater business insight links directly to risk management, cost containment and the enhanced quality of service we provide our clients,” Khan explained.
A more consolidated view of healthcare has also resulted in a more efficient business model.
“As part of our drive to remain in the forefront of the ever changing healthcare industry, we successfully moved administration and managed care activities closer together,” Khan said.
The company treats each of its clients as a stand-alone business, supported by dedicated management and operation teams.
“This client-centric approach ensures accountability and scalability at all levels of functionality, thereby facilitating quality service delivery at highly competitive prices,” Khan said.
At a time when many other companies are cutting back, MHG is also taking a different approach when it comes to its staff.
“We have a strong policy of investing in people,” Khan said. “Our recruitment and retention strategies are in line with the best in the world, as are our remuneration and reward systems and skills development programmes.”
