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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Dear All,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Please find below the message sent to all Wits staff re: the Medical Aid Review.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Apologies that your copy has taken so long: a Pensioner member address list system had to be set up for this office. It is now in operation, and in future messages
to all staff will be submitted timeously to you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Melanie Dobbs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D">Executive Secretary to<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D">Dr Kgomotso Kasonkola<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D">Senior Human Resources Director<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D">Rm No: 9010, 9th Floor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D">Senate House<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D">University of the Witwatersrand<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D">Tel: 011 717 1402<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D">Fax: 086 553 4703<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body1"><b>MEDICAL AID REVIEW<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="Body1"><b>Circular to all staff<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="Body1" style="text-align:justify">We wish to thank all colleagues for the inputs and comments made in respect of the review of the University of the Witwatersrand Staff Medical Aid Fund (UWSMAF). However, it is necessary to state at the outset that
there is clearly a misconception regarding the purpose of the review. The exercise was undertaken to identify the concerns of members and to explore options that might satisfy members, while also ensuring the sustainability of the Fund. Such options are to
be presented to all stakeholders for consideration and, where appropriate and feasible, for implementation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body1" style="text-align:justify">Issues raised by respondents are addressed in the following paragraphs:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body1" style="text-align:justify"><b>Governance issues<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="Body1" style="text-align:justify">The WSMAF Board of Trustees will be consulted in the next phases of the review process to provide perspectives on the matter. At the recent Review Committee meeting the importance of consultation with the Employer
(represented by VCO, SET and ultimately Council), was also identified from the viewpoint that any findings and recommendations arising from the review process may have implications for the post-retirement liability that the University has towards all staff
appointed before 1 January 2006.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body1" style="text-align:justify"><b>Medical aid fund choice<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="Body1" style="text-align:justify">As with most 'in-house' medical aid schemes, membership of the WSMAF is compulsory for staff on a continuous employment contract. Input received from respondents indicates that there are WSMAF members who wish the
review process to explore either membership of an open scheme such as Discovery or establishing a low cost option within the WSMAF. It needs to be stated that the latter is legislatively not possible because of the small size of the Fund. Nevertheless, the
expressed need for choice will be considered at the end of review process, informed by data, with discussion focused on issues such as reconfiguration of current benefits and/or restructuring of the contribution tables. However before any changes are made,
additional input relating to member preferences needs to be solicited.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body1"><b><span lang="EN-ZA">Proposed methodology<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body1" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-ZA">We received a number of objections to data collection by means of small focus groups as the methodology might limit representation and fuller participation of staff in the process. In response
to these objections the Review Committee agreed to change the method from focus group discussions to distribution of a questionnaire to all segments of membership for completion. The Committee appreciates that due to the complexity of the issues some staff
members may not be confident in completing the questionnaires. Every effort will be made to ensure that the service provider (DMSA) works closely with HR and the Unions in finding the best approach to collection of data from these colleagues.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body1"><b><span lang="EN-ZA">Pensioner concerns<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body1" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-ZA">A number of pensioner members raised concerns that the previous communiqu</span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">é</span><span lang="EN-ZA"> did not reach them,
and also perceived the exercise as a potential infringement on their rights and a threat to the very existence of the Fund. Unfortunately we could not reach all pensioner members because of legal protection of their addresses but have since contacted Medscheme
for assistance. We are pleased to advise that Medscheme has provided the addresses and we will now forward to pensioner members all information relating to the review process, including the initial report and the aforementioned questionnaire.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body1" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-ZA">Next steps<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Body1" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-ZA">DMSA has submitted the questionnaire to be used in the next phase of the review process for comments and inputs by the members of the Review Committee. Once the questionnaire has been finalised
the process will begin in earnest. We envisage that a final report on the review exercise will be available by end June 2013, at which point the process of consideration of options by relevant stakeholders will begin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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