USKO`s long-awaited e-commerce venture with hospital group Netcare and medical aid company Fedsure Health is up and running after R60 million and 18 months of testing.
The e-business venture will electronically manage and process claims and payments within the healthcare industry. This will take place over a secure virtual private network (VPN) with all patient`s details travelling the network in encrypted form, ensuring privacy.
MediSwitch, through Netcare, will have access to 44 hospitals and clinics, and will process claims for 250 000 principle members who cover in the order of 700 000 people.
Talks are underway to bring United South African Pharmacies (USAP) into the venture, which will give MediSwitch access to approximately 1 500 pharmacies.
"Discussions are currently at an advanced stage with pharmacy interest group USAP and private pathology group Ampath, and in progress with a number of other significant healthcare providers and funders around equity participation in the new venture," says Rob Abraham, MD of the new venture.
John Beck, USKO CEO, comments: "MediSwitch, as an initial initiative, has been delivering real-time, Internet and batch electronic claims and, in some instances, paper claims, to medical aids for over a year now and we have gone through the pains of setting up the critical support infrastructures and relationships in the market to deliver a first-of-it`s-kind e-business service to the SA healthcare community. The new company will licence the switch technology and fault-tolerant facilities from USKO."
The final equity will be split equally between USKO, providers and funders.
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