Government Employees Medical Scheme

Meet our facilitator: Ms Cathy Mohlahlana! Cathy is an award-winning broadcast journalist and radio talk show host. She currently  anchors “The Talking Point” on SAfm. She's previously won the National Press Club Radio Journalist of the Year Award. Cathy is a sought after moderator, MC, facilitator and panel chairperson. She’s become a regular on South Africa’s corporate stages and online event platforms. Her accomplishments include being selected to participate in the CNN Journalism Fellowship, being selected as a fellow for US President Barack Obama’s ‘Young African Leaders Initiative’ (YALI) and being named one of the leading women in broadcasting by local publications. If you have not registered for the GEMS Symposium yet, click on the following Zoom link and reserve your spot today: https://bit.ly/4fvtEs4. #GEMSSymposium2024

Remember to register for the upcoming 2024 Annual GEMS Symposium on Thursday, 26 September 2024 and Friday, 27 September 2024. Key discussion points on day 1 will include: Overcoming Access Challenges: Practical Approaches to Broaden Access to Essential Health Services; Measuring and Evaluating the Impact of Access, Prevention, and Promotion Programs; Equity is a Core Component of a Sustainable and Resilient Healthcare System; Identifying Priorities for Effective Coverage Indicators – Responding to the health needs and Using AI to Give Your Healthcare Data a Voice. The GEMS Symposium is CPD accredited with CPD points allocated to registered attendees as follows: Day 1 = 4 Ethics Day 2 = 4 Ethics, 3 Clinical To register to attend via Zoom click on the following link and reserve your spot today: https://bit.ly/4fvtEs4. #GEMSSymposium2024

Remember to register for the upcoming 2024 Annual GEMS Symposium on Thursday, 26 September 2024 and Friday, 27 September 2024. Key discussion points on day 1 will include: Overcoming Access Challenges: Practical Approaches to Broaden Access to Essential Health Services; Measuring and Evaluating the Impact of Access, Prevention, and Promotion Programs; Equity is a Core Component of a Sustainable and Resilient Healthcare System; Identifying Priorities for Effective Coverage Indicators – Responding to the health needs and Using AI to Give Your Healthcare Data a Voice. The GEMS Symposium is CPD accredited with CPD points allocated to registered attendees as follows: Day 1 = 4 Ethics Day 2 = 4 Ethics, 3 Clinical To register to attend via Zoom click on the following link and reserve your spot today: https://bit.ly/4fvtEs4. #GEMSSymposium2024

The Scheme has been made aware of social media communication regarding an advocacy group offering assistance in accessing Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) for members living with Type 1 diabetes. We are investigating the source of this communication. Click here for more information https://bit.ly/47oFlgl

Meet our speakers for the GEMS KZN Provider Summit!

GEMS is excited to announce that we will be at the Mpumalanga Agricultural Trade and Family Show from 05 to 07 September 2024 at Mbombela Stadium. Our member servicing team will be on-site to assist you with your member-related queries. See you there! #DiscoverTheBrillianceOfGEMS

Join us for the upcoming virtual #GEMSDay event on Friday, 6 September 2024, from 09:00 to 12:00. Our health experts will provide valuable information on eye care awareness, GEMS’ Emerald and Emerald Valau benefit options, and GEMS’ claims process. We have also invited the GEPF to discuss the Two-Pot retirement system. Click here to register and book your spot: https://bit.ly/3X6RbXM

Dr Vuyo Gqola is a registered Medical Practitioner. In September 2015 she was appointed as the Scheme’s Chief Healthcare Officer (CHO). Please join us in congratulating Dr Vuyo as she assumes her new role as Chief Operations Officer (COO), effective 01 September 2024. As COO she will be responsible for the Scheme’s Operations and Administration functions: Administration & Transaction Services (ATS), Member Service & Experience (MSE), Healthcare Management (HM) and Information & Communication Technology (ICT). Please visit the website for her full bio: https://bit.ly/3Ms3JEa We wish her every success.

The Mpumalanga Provincial Mental Health in the Workplace Women Summit, led by the Provincial Department of Health in Mpumalanga under the leadership of Ms Sasekane Manzini was on the 30th of August 2024. The event was divided into two sessions. The first session was held at The Nutting House which was attended by female health professionals from the 3 districts, 33 hospitals, all the clinics and other departments including The Office of the Premier. Dr Cheryl Nelson who was standing in for the HoD Dr Ndlovhu, welcomed all employees, partners, and sponsors in particular GEMS which is the main sponsor for this event for the past four years. Ms Conny Ntshane-Legong, Deputy Director: Employee Health and Wellness, and the Deputy Chair of the GEMS Board of Trustees spoke about the purpose of the day, where she outlined the mental health challenges faced by public servants, especially women and health practitioners in particular. She also outlined interventions that required to the stigma and reduce the risk of discrimination faced by health professionals. Amongst the speakers Dr Vuyo Gqola, GEMS Chief Healthcare Officer, spoke about mental health challenges affecting women in the public service with a specific reference to Mpumalanga. Ms Lebo Khumalo, CEO of Bertha Gxowa Hospital and GEMS Trustee, spoke about mental health challenges experience facing by female CEOs, drawing from experienced as a female CEO. Dr Anusha Naidoo, Chief Director from the Department of Public Service and Administration spoke about the Policy Position of Public Service on Mental Health in the workplace. Ms Radhi Vandayar, the president of the board of EAPA-SA spoke about the role of Employee Health and Wellness Practitioners in promoting mental wellness in public service. MEC Sasekane delivered a keynote address where she emphasized on health professionals’ mental health being promoted and taken seriously. The event was attended by more a thousand women in the department. The second session was a Gala Dinner held at the Capital Mbombela. The purpose of the gala dinner was for the MEC to declare the Mpumalanga Department of Health a Psychologically Safe Department. Dr Gqola delivered a massage of support and commitment to supporting the mental wellbeing of public servants. The gala was attended by 70 stakeholder organisations. #WomensMonth #WomenWhoLead #InspirationalWomen #MentalHealth 

GEMS Provider Liaison Officers (PLO) are at the 41st National Congress of the South African Society of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (SASOG). This year’s congress will integrate all aspects of women’s health to offer comprehensive and sustainable solutions and bridge the divide in the areas of gender equality, adolescent health, reproductive choices and rights, maternal health, women beyond the reproductive years, prevention and diagnostics. Delegates are encouraged to visit the GEMS exhibition stand and engage the PLOs on all Practitioner-related queries.