WORST MEDICAL AID TO DATE!!!!!

To say that Gems is the worst medical scheme would truly be an understatement. My now 7months old son was diagnosed with Metatarsus adductus due to foetal position whilst my wife was pregnant.This was jn July when he was still 4 months!!. He needed to have castings done on his feet and so we needed to fill in a PMB form,send quotes and quotes which we did. Till today our query is still being attended even though my son's condition is limb threatening. Absolutely no assistance through calls and even at a physical branch in berea Durban i was told to wait 14days which lapsed and still nothing was done. Below is the last email i sent with a time record of all the dates but i have still not been assisted. The government needs to do right by us hardworking patrons and cancel gems so we can access efficient medical attention through competent schemes.If my son’s feet are not casted asap, he will struggle to walk properly and he is already in his standing milestone.

Please kindly refer to query number 220823QFBK43 and revert back with utmost urgency. I was referred to Dr I Stead who is an orthopeadic surgeon by a physiothe****** because of my son’s condition (dependent 00). Upon assessment it was discovered that his condition is limb threatening and I therefore submitted a PMB application on 28 July 2023. I then enquired telephonically on the progress on 15 August 2023 to which I was told that the PMB form needed to be accompanied by a letter from the above-mentioned doctor as well as the quotation for the procedure. These documents were submitted on 17 August 2023. Another telephonic enquiry was logged on 21 August 2023 and receipt of my application was acknowledged and I was told to wait.

On the 24th of August I received an email requesting the abovementioned documents again which was sent to the motivations email address on the 26th of August. Out of frustration and concern for my child’s health I proceeded to visit the Durban Branch in Berea Centre on 29 August and was told to wait 14 days for a response. On September 04 2023 I was copied on an email from motivations forwarding my applications to the queries department. The last telephonic enquiry was on September 11 and I was put through to different departments but was still not assisted.

My son is 6 months and needs to have this procedure done as soon as possible in order to avoid permanent damage on his feet as per the doctor’s advice. I plead for an urgent response and approval of the required procedure with Dr Stead.

Attac