There is an increasing concentration and approach to the state of wellness in South Africa today, most especially in the workplace and communities. Several governmental, private and non-governmental organizations are being setup to ensure reduction of disease conditions and improve productivity in all ramification

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The Wellness Space in South Africa: The Stakeholders involved
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Introduction
There is an increasing concentration and approach to the state of wellness in South
Africa today, most especially in the workplace and communities. Several governmental,
private and non­governmental organizations are being setup to ensure reduction of disease
conditions and improve productivity in all ramifications (Lubbe, 2010).
This paper discusses the different organizations involved in changing behavior and
rendering wellness type services in South Africa.
Background
The definition of health given by the World Health Organization implies that health is
more than just managing disease conditions. Health is defined as “a state of complete
physical, mental and social well­being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
(W.H.O.) (Lubbe, 2010).
WELLCOSSA, 2000 defined wellness as “a conscious and continuous integrative
process leading into the enhancement of individual, organizational and community health and
well­being.
Hettler, 2007 highlighted six dimensions of wellness depicted in Figure 1 including
social, emotional, occupational, physical, spiritual and intellectual.

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Social Wellness
This form of wellness follows two distinct principles which include:
● It is not a good thing to be selfish (thinking only of oneself) but to make contribution
to the general welfare of the community by encouraging healthier living (Lubbe,
2010).
● It is very crucial to live in harmony with people around us and maintain a better
communication link with them (Hettler, 2007).
Physical Wellness
This dimension encourages physical development by learning to consume foods and
beverages that encourage good health and discouraging the consumption of things that can
impair health such as excessive alcohol, tobacco and drugs. It also recognizes the
effectiveness of building physical strength and flexibility as well as getting appropriate
medical self­care and use of medical system (Lubbe, 2010).
Emotional Wellness
This follows the following principles
● Recognizing awareness and acceptance of feelings and not denying one self.
● Having a positive view and approach to life rather than taking it pessimistically
(Hettler, 20007).
Occupational Wellness
It involves getting personal satisfaction and enrichment through one’s job. This is
usually achieved by selecting a career which is rewarding and adds to individual’s personal

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values as well as involving in occupational development opportunities instead of remaining
inactive (Hettler, 2007).
There are several organizations focusing basically on systems and rendering wellness type
services in the country. They include:
Wellness South Africa (Whips)
Description of Company
Wellness South Africa (WHIPS) is a mobile nursing service of good standing,
registered with appropriate regulatory and legal bodies. The company has an extensive
coverage and a solid national footprint in the country. They operate various kinds of services
basically to the insurance industry and they are well accustomed to the necessary service
level expectations and obligations of the industry (WHIPS, 2012).
Description of their offering
This organization has different wellness program packages as well as wellness day
packages. Wellness program packages include wellness programs, corporate wellness
programs whereas wellness day packages range from executive package, corporate stress
relief package to seasonal absence prevention package.
Wellness Program Packages
Employee wellness programs: Based on the view of WHIPS, 2012, this wellness
program is very essential for the proper functioning of various businesses, as it has seriously
reduced the level of absenteeism and reduced the cost of healthcare, thereby, causing an
improvement in productivity. This program is also helping the organization in the area of

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positive Return­on­Investment. Some employers have come to the knowledge of this and this
has made them to take steps on implementing health promotion initiatives (WHIPS, 2012).
Corporate wellness programs: This has also been found to be of great benefit to businesses, as
it boosts the productivity of the company. Workers tend to remain with the company when
they are satisfied with their job and they realize their employers value them. Corporate
wellness programs involve the implementation of programs such as onsite gyms and simple
wellness newsletters encouraging people to take some steps to prevent illness from occurring
or worsening of health condition (WHIPS, 2012).
Packages Strategically Included On Wellness Days
Executive package: This is usually conducted for companies that have been their client for
years, which have company group schemes or vitality benefits. The packages include rapid
testing, vitamin boosters and flu vaccines (WHIPS, 2012).
Corporate stress relief package: This is just to help management, sales team, corporate body
as well as students to boost performance and maintain productivity especially during stressful
periods. The packages include vit B­12, vit B co Booster and Flu vaccine (optional) (WHIPS,
2012).
Seasonal Absence prevention package: This involves the administration of certain vitamin
shots and Flu vaccine (optional) to boost health and arm the immune system against certain
seasonal infections (WHIPS, 2012).

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Medical Services Organization
Description of the company
The first registration of Medical Services Organization was done in 1995 by Health
Care Management Holdings (Pty) Ltd. (HMH). The organization is established with the aim
of providing risk management and disease management services to millions of people all over
Africa and internationally especially Europe and United states. Hospital cost and cost of
medication poses problem to any healthcare funder. Medical Services Organization views it
at this point and comes in by developing a strategy of comprehensive managed care solution
whereby health funders and medical schemes are given unique advantages; improving their
competitive position.
The organization is autonomous and the only provider of managed care in South
Africa accredited by the Council for Medical Schemes (MSO, 2012).
Description of their offering
The product offering of this organization is majorly based on Hospital Risk
Management and aimed at the delivery of higher savings compared to service cost. Products
offered include case management, clinical audit, pre­authorization, chronic disease
management, specialist programs such as radiology, psychiatry, oncology, dentistry,
pediatrics, maternity as well as HIV screening; Pharmacy benefit management, Hospital
claim Negotiation service, medical assistance, medical peer review and network service
provider service (MSO, 2012).
Chronic disease management (CDM): This service is aimed at risk management of clients
who have people suffering manageable ailments such as diabetes mellitus, asthma, HIV,

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hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Management strategies involved include lifestyle
management, supportive education on adaptation and coping (MSO, 2012).
Website
http://www.mso.co.za
Metropolitan Health Risk Management (Qualsa Healthcare (Pty) Ltd
The organization is previously known as Qualsa Healthcare (Pty) Ltd. It is an affiliate
of Metropolitan Health (who is also affiliated to JSE­listed MMI Holdings). The organization
holds a strong ground in innovating management of clinical as well as financial risk for
different clients (Metropolitan, 2007). They are into the provision of managed care services
to medical schemes in companies (Metropolitan, 2007).
Description of offering
Products and services are structured around the need of their clients. They believe that
proper utilization of managed care programs will take care of benefit expenditure as well as
adequate availability of quality care to clients in medical scheme such as employees and
members (Metropolitan, 2007).
Managed care programs include:
­ HIV Yourlife Program
­ Hospital Risk Management
­ Medicine Risk Management
­ Maternity Risk Management
­ Oncology Risk Management

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Shareholding
The organization has BEE shareholders and they are Kagiso Trust Investment (KTI), Inyanga
Consortium, Management and Staff (Metropolitan, 2007).
Website
http://www.metropolitanhrm.co.za
Lifesense Disease Management
Company description
Lifesense Disease Management is one of the largest autonomous companies managing
diseases in South Africa. It encompasses the HIV/AIDS management program which is a
service rendered to the public in the country. This is achieved through medical schemes and
corporate contracts (Lifesense Disease Management, 2011).
Description of their offering
Provision of case management program for people living with HIV/AIDS: Lifesense
Disease Management has been using all possible means to ensure that there is adequate
management program for HIV and AIDS to ensure that their clients remains clinically fit and
healthy, with high productivity. Committed doctors and case managers are employed who
have great responsibility for HIV/AIDS clients (Lifesense Disease Management, 2011).

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Each of the employed workers has different roles to play. For instance, the medical
advisor ensures that treatment is recommended and authorization of ARV therapy is made
based on pathology results (Lifesense Disease Management, 2011).
Case management in HIV/AIDS is very crucial as clients have to be monitored for
drug adherence to prevent the issue of drug resistance (Lifesense Disease Management,
2011).
Other case management provided includes
● Accessible 24 hour call center for advice and assistance
● Counseling through telephone means
● Adherence encouragement through SMS reminders
● Support from doctors
● Correct HAART regimen validation
● MTCT management
● National drug delivery seamless facilitation
● Notification to perform pathology monitoring
Executive team
Managing director Van Bassen
Website
http://www.lifesensedm.co.za
Careways Group

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Company description
Careways group was launched in 1986 and well certified through wellness program
involvement with innovative industries especially for mining sector. The organization has a
good reputation in the country and they are aimed at providing innovative as well as
comprehensive wellness solutions to South Africa based clients. They help employees earn
healthy and productive lifestyles as well as satisfaction in their jobs.
The organization believes that promoting wellness in South Africa’s businesses will
cause:
­ High improvement in the productivity of business.
­ Boost morale thereby reducing turnover levels of staff.
­ Enhances management and mitigation in an organization.
­ Lowers the level of absenteeism and time lost in business.
Services offered

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Footprint in Africa
Footprint in South Africa especially in the following cities – Polokwane, Midrand (H/O),
Rustenburg, Kimberty, Bioemfontein, Durban, Cape town, Port Elizabeth (Careways, 2010).
­ More than 220 clients
­ National multidisciplinary networks
­ National infrastructure
­ Multiple access channels.
­ More than 1000 wellness practitioners (physical and psycho­social health aspects)

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Shareholding
The organization’s shareholding is through Firefly investments (26%) and it is within South
Africa (Careways, 2012).
Website
http://www.carewaysgroup.com

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Other organizations offering wellness services in the country include:
Dischem
Emerging
market
healthcare
Vitality Knowledge
objects
Absence
management
PPN
Clicks
pharmacies
Lifechoice
Zurreal Universal
health
Occupational
health companies
Allegra
Alpha pharm
Careworks
Africa
Own your life Health24
Ubuntu wellness Private Health
Administrators
ICAS
Lifesense
disease
management
Multiply Agility
Ndawo wellness
MediPost
EOH
Medical services
organization
Aids for
AIDS
Resilience
training
regarding
wellness and
stress
Rejuke Optimahealth
Care cross
Optipharm
Medipay
Health on call
Wellness South
Africa
Careways group
Virgin active Managed
healthcare
systems
Medicross
Enablemed
Primecure
Healthman
Based on the impact organizations rendering wellness services to systems are making
in the country, several companies have yielded to the development, thereby, incorporating
wellness programs into their activities for their workers and the communities, mostly through
healthcare organizations. Some of the companies involved in this development include
ESKOM, Shell, TELKOM, SASOL AND BP.
Workings And Successes Of The Above Company’s Wellness Programs in South Africa
Eskom Holdings (Pty) Ltd.
Eskom is one of the leading organizations in South Africa offering health and
wellness services. Their goal of enhancing the health or quality of life of people in South
Africa earned them an award – Markinor Top Brand Award (Teixeira, 2002). They support a

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wide range of health and wellness programs that renders employee assistance program,
occupational health services, preventive care as well as biokinetics to workers, management
of chronic diseases including HIV/AIDS and sport and recreation. All of this added an
advantage and encouraged the participation of employees in the services (Eskom, 2010).
In the year 2009, the company received an award by the South African Human Rights
Commission who announced them as the overall winner of the year’s openness and
responsiveness award –the Golden Key Award (Eskom, 2010).
Eskom has twenty four clinics on all their sites with well­trained wellness teams
including occupational nurses and doctors, HIV/AIDS coordinators, biokineticists and peer
educators; employee assistance program advisers. Each of the clinics renders basic as well as
occupational healthcare and wellness to workers (World Economic Forum, 2008).
The company made moves to provide advice, coaching and mentoring on the
launching and sustenance of wellness programs by going into partnership with the South
African Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (SABCOHA) to all their suppliers (World
Economic Forum, 2008).
The wellness programs are shared into six parts namely:
­ HIV/AIDS workplace activities.
­ Occupational health and medicine.
­ Employee assistance program which includes services for smoking cessation,
substance abuse and critical incident management.
­ Sports and recreation.
o Primary healthcare

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­ Travel medicine and expatriate health.
Eskom developed a strategy of communication to get the employees and management
team involved in the wellness program through various means such as internal publication
and workshops as well as intranet (World Economic Forum, 2008).
Telkom
Telkom is the largest and leading communications service provider in South Africa
and in Africa. They have wellness programs which are basically for their employee and they
have developed integrated approach to be able to identify, interpret, alleviate and manage the
wellness of their workers especially in the aspect of safety, environmental management risks,
occupational health, hazards and impacts.
Telkom’s wellness programs include:
­ Physical wellness and lifestyle modification programs.
­ Financial and socio­economic wellness
­ Thuso HIV/AIDS workplace program
­ Thuso wellness Employee Assistance Program(E.A.P): psycho­social wellness
Physical Wellness and Lifestyle Modification Programs
This intervention is on a rotational basis which is done in an 18­21 month cycle
according to the risk identified. There are specific health days where health screening test
such as blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index and blood sugar, HIV as well as eye
screening test are provided. It also includes other intervention such as neck and shoulder
massage. These tests are performed by qualified external health practitioners (Telkom, 2013).

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The company developed a strategy of reinforcing the intervention by creating
awareness, training, adequate communication and prevention using various means to ensure
participation of employees (Telkom, 2013).
Thuso HIV/AIDS Workplace Programs
Telkom Company adopted four major strategies in implementing this program
including creation of awareness, training, prevention, support and care. This program started
in October, 2004, and it has grown richly to one of the most recognized programs in South
Africa. Based on this success, the company received an award in 2008 – Global Business
Coalitions (GBC) Annual Awards. The award showcased their success in integrating
Voluntary Counseling Testing and Treatment Program (VCTT) (Telkom, 2013).
The achievements of the organization were tracked against established program targets
such as:
­ Liberalized HIV/AIDS workplace policy.
­ Committed Thuso team.
­ Provision of post exposure prophylaxis.
­ Devotion to confidentiality.
­ Thuso wellness champions program.
Sasol Company
Sasol is a company that manufactures diverse forms of fuel, chemical and other
related materials. It is based in South Africa with branches in different parts of the country

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including Mpumalanga, Johannesburg, Secunda as well as Sasolburg in Free State
(Dickinson, 2002).
They have a medical scheme called Sasolmed of which other wellness programs are
incorporated. The main aim of Sasolmed is to provide a holistic, sustainable and integrated
medical scheme which will enhance the quality of life of beneficiaries.
Sasolmed partners with a committed managed care company –MedScheme to achieve
their aim (Sasolmed, 2013)
Wellness programs conducted include:
­ Hospital management
­ Chronic Medicine Management Program
­ Dental management
­ Aid for AIDS program
­ Oncology disease management program
­ Resilience Health Services: Chronic Back and Neck Rehabilitation Program
Shell South Africa Pty Ltd
The major wellness program Shell conducts is Haulier Wellness Clinic. It is a yearly
program. The program was run on four National highways in 2011 in conjunction with GRSP
ZA, along with Traffic Management Corporation National Enforcement and Trucking
Wellness Clinics Healthcare Staff. The program is specifically designed to check drivers’
general health and wellbeing. The result of the one conducted in 2011 revealed that most

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drivers are obese, therefore increasing their level of fatigue. Blood pressure values were also 1
noted. A recent wellness program was also conducted around the Easter period of 2012 which
yielded a positive result (Global Road Safety Partnership, 2012).
1

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BP Company
Over the years, BP has made significant impact in introducing wellness programs.
The wellness offering includes:
­ Specialist support
­ Medical interventions
­ Wellness strategy and program
­ Employee assistance programs
­ Retiree/Retrenchment program
­ HSE integration
­ Project management
­ Nutrition program
­ Physical, fitness and exercise program
­ Ergonomics program
The success of these wellness programs is as a result of the commitment of their team in
ensuring that individuals’ health is effectively cared for (BP, 2003; BP, 2013).
In 2012, BP received a Gold Award from National Business Group on Health for their
outstanding wellness program and in the year 2013, the company was chosen as a Platinum
winner for the years, Employers for Healthy Lifestyles Awards (BP, 2013).

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Conclusion
With the trend of wellness services in South Africa, research has revealed the extent at which
disease conditions are managed and reduced. This has really influenced communities and
organizations positively as individuals’ become aware of their health status and the
management of their conditions. As more wellness program strategies are developed,
organizations should initiate more adequate awareness on the quality of health of their
employees so that better productivity and increased creativity can be achieved.

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References
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healthy workforce​. Retrieved from ​http://www​.bp.com
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Careways (2012).​ The way to wellness. ​Retrieved from http://www.carewaysgroup.com
Dickson, D. (2002). ​Sasols’ response to HIV/AIDS​. Retrieved from
http://www.wbs.pl.privatelabel.co.za
Eskom (2010). ​Profile of Eskom Holdings Limited: Scope of annual integrated sustainability
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World Economic Forum (2008). ​Working towards wellness: Global example​. Retrieved from
http://www.weforum.org.