CSI

When respondents from leading South African companies and government were asked in a national survey to rate companies’ strategy and practices on corporate social responsibility (CSR), Netcare was rated the top healthcare organisation. This has earned the Group a PMR.africa Diamond Arrow Award, the highest recognition, for the past four years.

The Netcare Group’s corporate social investment is focused on the following key categories:

Emergency medical services to indigent patients
Healthcare accessibility initiatives and programmes for disadvantaged communities and individuals
Community health and welfare sponsorships and outreach programmes
Academic sponsorships and bursaries
Discretionary CSI projects

The hospital division supports the Netcare Group’s CSI strategy, with staff members and healthcare practitioners actively participating in a number of outreach and awareness initiatives in the communities where we operate.

Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work campaign

This annual initiative has enjoyed excellent support from our hospitals for a number of years. It provides an opportunity for us to give young girls a glimpse into the healthcare environment that we hope will inspire them in their future career choices.

The Netcare Group’s CSI strategy, governance and activities are coordinated by the Netcare Foundation, a public benefit company that was established in 2010. The Foundation partners with government, corporates, suppliers, healthcare professionals and staff members to support the development of the communities in which Netcare works.

Click here to read more about Netcare’s CSI initiatives.

Access to specialised medical treatment

A number of Netcare hospitals support the Netcare Foundation in its initiatives to provide disadvantaged individuals access to specialised medical treatment.

Nine Netcare hospitals across South Africa, together with and specialist ophthalmologists practising at these hospitals, for example participate in the Netcare cataract programme which to date has restored the sight of just under 5 000 disadvantaged individuals.

Community health and welfare initiatives

Netcare hospital supports numerous healthcare community initiatives that facilitate primary care and a broader access to healthcare. Initiatives range from offering health awareness days, free public screenings as well as health talks for the public, pre-schoolers and school learners, to donations of medical and depreciated hospital equipment.

A good example of hospital staff support for Netcare Foundation outreach initiatives is the Share the Hope initiative, which was launched in 2015 in conjunction with biopharmaceutical company, AbbVie to provide premature babies with essential baby items.

Netcare staff members, mostly from Netcare hospitals, packed over 1 500 gift boxes with baby clothing, blankets, nappies and toiletries that they donated. These gift boxes were distributed to mothers of premature babies being cared for in neonatal intensive care units at 14 public sector hospitals. AbbVie donated gift boxes and Skynet Worldwide Express delivered the boxes to these hospitals free of charge.

Meredith Dooley (left), senior brand manager neonatology at AbbVie, and Linda Pretorius (right), co-ordinator of Netcare’s Neonatal Forum, with some of the more than 1 500 gift boxes donated to premature babies in state hospitals.

Moses Project

Staff and a few suppliers donated second hand baby clothes and blankets, as well as nappies and toiletries for the Moses Project, run by the Tshwane Child Welfare Department for abandoned babies.