Return to Webmag Home
Financial Planning
04 minutes

The role of medical aids in the long game of HIV eradication in SA

South Africa’s progress against HIV depends on long-term, consistent care. This article explores how medical aids support national efforts through structured HIV programmes that improve early diagnosis, treatment continuity and viral suppression, helping ease pressure on public clinics and strengthening the country’s broader HIV response.
Written by
Dr Themba Hadebe
Published on
December 3, 2025
Copy link

South Africa enters World Aids Day this year at a pivotal moment. While the country has made significant strides in reducing new infections and improving access to treatment, HIV remains a major public health challenge. Millions of South Africans rely on the national HIV programme, placing sustained pressure on public clinics to provide prevention, testing and treatment services.

Within this landscape, medical aids play a critical supporting role through structured, long-term HIV care offered to members, which helps to ease the burden on public facilities while ensuring people living with HIV receive consistent, high-quality treatment.

Though often understated in national discussions, this support contributes to the same long-term goals as the national HIV response, which are early diagnosis, continuous treatment and viral suppression at scale.

The future of HIV care depends on consistency, not crisis response. Medical aids have a responsibility to make that consistency possible by supporting members with reliable access to treatment, monitoring and counselling.

“Within the national HIV landscape, medical aids play a critical supporting role through structured, long-term HIV care.”

Dr Themba Hadebe
Clinical Executive at Bonitas Medical Fund

Adapting to a changing HIV care landscape

This form of support matters more as national policy shifts. South Africa’s HIV treatment approach now makes it easier for people living with HIV to access care and stay on treatment. For members, this means fewer clinic visits, more convenient ways to get medicine, and additional avenues for support – all designed to help them maintain long-term health and wellbeing.

Structured HIV programmes ensure that members benefit from regular health checks, emotional support and guidance from trained counsellors in addition to receiving the medicine they need. This helps them manage side effects, understand their treatment plans and address challenges early, reducing the risk of interruptions and supporting sustained health outcomes.

Early detection remains a cornerstone of the national HIV response. Expanding access to self-testing and pharmacy-led services allows more people to know their status sooner, creating opportunities for immediate treatment and ongoing care. Consistent support ensures that individuals start treatment promptly, stay engaged, and achieve viral suppression – outcomes that are essential to limiting transmission and protecting public health.

Long-term success in HIV care depends on consistent support and follow-up at every stage, from early diagnosis to ongoing treatment and emotional guidance. When people have access to regular monitoring, counselling and timely interventions, it improves individual outcomes as well as strengthens the health system as a whole.

Achieving South Africa’s 95‑95‑95 targets depends on well-coordinated, long-term systems. While public health facilities carry the bulk of the responsibility, structured programmes in the private sector play a vital supporting role.

World AIDS Day is a reminder that progress relies on continuity, and that prevention, testing and treatment must be sustained to be effective. Consistent, structured support strengthens the national response, helps reduce new infections, and improves the lives of people living with HIV across the country.

Profida is highly customisable

Profida is highly customisable to cater for specialist life, medical, and short-term insurance products (Yes, all 3). If you are an underwriting manager or broker looking for an Insurance Management Software Suite and want insight into your policy & claims administration, including underwriting, then Profida has what you need.

Learn More

Dashboard mockup