COVER FEATURE: POLMED
the health funders, non-regulation of the healthcare provider pricing, lack of PMB review over the years, and the palpable Fraud, Waste and Abuse practices that erode the scheme ' s limited resources. Unfortunately, over the past 25 years, the industry has failed to implement recommendations that arise from these findings, adding to the strain on the industry.
The future is now shaped by the National Health Insurance( NHI) Act, which introduces uncertainty about the long-term role of schemes such as ours, reshaping their role as primary funders of private healthcare for defined groups.
How is the medical scheme nurturing and empowering its people to drive future growth? We are building a future-ready workforce through a Holistic People Strategy. This includes:
• Wellbeing and engagement programmes such as wellness initiatives, lifestyle challenges, screenings, and culture-building activities that support employees physically, mentally, and emotionally.
• Internal mobility opportunities, including acting roles and promotions to grow talent and retain institutional knowledge.
• Continuous learning and professional development supported by bursaries, accredited studies, and targeted upskilling programmes.
• A structured Succession Management Framework, ensuring leadership continuity and a robust future talent pipeline.
• A clearly articulated Employee Value Proposition( EVP) – Grow. Thrive. Belong. – which guides how we design and deliver our people practices from development and recognition, to engagement and wellbeing, and articulates the experience we want every employee to have at POLMED. The EVP ensures that every intervention is meaningful, inclusive, and aligned to the needs of our diverse inter-generational workforce.
POLMED provides hands-on experience with emerging technologies in healthcare administration, data analytics, and digital health management. Through these efforts we are cultivating a committed, capable, and future-ready workforce that will drive the Scheme’ s long-term growth and sustainability.
Could you elaborate on how you are leveraging this technology to enhance member experience, improve efficiency, and ensure cost-effective delivery?
POLMED’ s digital transformation is central to our ambition to build an integrated, member-centric ecosystem. Although administration is currently outsourced, our long-term strategy involves progressively insourcing ICT capabilities to enhance agility and innovation.
A significant milestone is the introduction of POLMED Connect. This platform gives members convenient access to real-time information, benefits, clinical support, and administrative services through a single, intuitive interface.
Our broader digital agenda includes:
• Modernising our technology architecture for scalability.
• Driving operational efficiency through automation and streamlined workflows.
• Using data responsibly to improve population health outcomes.
• Strengthening cybersecurity and information governance.
• Building a digitally competent workforce.
This transformation will elevate member experience, improve cost efficiency, and position POLMED for a digital-first future.
" POLMED provides hands-on experience with emerging technologies in healthcare administration, data analytics, and digital health management.”
How is POLMED embedding environmental, social, and governance( ESG) principles into its operations and long-term vision? We view ESG as a strategic imperative, not a compliance exercise only. We have established foundational frameworks, conducted training, and initiated a value-chain ESG study to guide deeper integration. Our goal is to embed ESG meaningfully into decision-making and operations.
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