Mediclinic enters primary healthcare market

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The investment comprises a minority shareholding in the medical centres and a controlling interest in hospital side of the business. Intercare will continue to manage all the facilities under its own brand.

Strategic sense

Given the swing towards preventative medicine as a means of reducing soaring costs and the burden of disease on an already stressed healthcare system, and the focus on primary healthcare in the National Health Insurance white paper, it makes strategic sense for the private hospital group to expand its interests into this space.

“We believe that this is the ideal opportunity to partner with an experienced and innovative leading role player in the primary healthcare market. The addition of the sub-acute and primary elements to Mediclinic’s healthcare offering will complement the services available through our specialist orientated, multidisciplinary acute care facilities,” Koert Pretorius, CEO of Mediclinic Southern Africa, said.

“Intercare has a clear vision of reinforcing primary healthcare’s essential role within the continuum of care. They have been innovative in the introduction of several patient-centred initiatives within the sub-acute and primary care environment.”

“Over the past 15 years Intercare has developed an integrated business model with medical and dental practitioners and the primary healthcare needs of the patient at its core,” said Dr Hendrik Hanekom, CEO of the Intercare group.

Both transactions are subject to several conditions, including Competition Commission approval of the Mediclinic acquisition of the controlling shareholding in the day hospital and sub-acute and rehabilitation hospitals owned by Intercare.