SA ' a sick nation' - DISCOVERY

NVDL: Fascinating article in The Times.co.za about medical claims from South Africa's largest medical aid scheme. From the top 10 chronic conditions we are stressed, overweight, depressed and suffering from mood disorders.

Here's a warning though - the most costly procedure is a liver transplant, at a cool half a million rand.

South Africa needs to cut down on the braais and booze and temper tantrums, exercise more, eat more salads and vegetarian meals (I did today at lunch) and work less.

These are the top illnesses:
# Hypertension (157716 members).
# Hyperlipidaemia, that is excess body fat (86912 members).
# Asthma (48587).
# Diabetes mellitus type 2 (32519).
# Major depression (15890).
# Diabetes mellitus type 1 (14264).
# Epilepsy (11269).
# Aids (10030).
# Bipolar mood disorder (6711).
# Multiple sclerosis (622).

Thankfully I don't fall into any of those categories.

clipped from www.thetimes.co.za IF PAYOUTS of South Africa’s biggest medical aid, Discovery, are anything to go by, South Africans are stressed, depressed and overweight. Members paid a combined R1.12-billion for chronic conditions through the company’s chronic illness benefit, tracked through the Discovery Chronic Ailment Barometer. Topping the list of chronic ailments was hypertension, with a total number of 157716 members complaining of the condition. The most costly procedures were: Liver transplants — R548802; Long term ventilation via tracheotomy — R448604; and