Parow intercare refuses to help Healthcare workers

would like to share my experience at Parow intercare.

On the 23th of july I had an appointment with Dr Anamika Karamchand ( dentist ). Her service was professional and of the highest standard. She prescribed me antibiotics and I was to return the following week once my medical aid/scheme approved the list of procedures that needed to be done.

After a week I received no feedback so I called the branch to inquire about the delay. I was informed by the women on the line that my medical aid has not approved the procedures as yet and she would follow up with the claims department then call me back. A week went by and I called back only to be told the same thing by the same women. By the 13th of July I had made numerous attempts to book my follow up and I was told that the delay was by the medical aid again. Therefore I decided to take it upon myself to contact health4me and follow up. I requested that Luzanne Swart forward me the emails so that I could use it as a reference. I then managed to contact health4me and I was informed by their claims department that for such minor procedures telephonic approval was sufficient. I then called the branch and informed them that all that was required was a call to health4me and she said she would give the message to the women in charge of claims then call me back later the day. That call never came and I yet again had to follow up. By now a month had passed and I was concerned that I would need more antibiotics for the procedure so I called again and she told me that she would check the doctor's schedule and then call me back if I needed to get more antibiotics and book my appointment. Yet again this did not materialize. A week or two had passed with no feedback so I called again today and was assured by the same women that i could get a booking next week Thursday and that she would follow up with dr about my antibiotics then call me back in exactly 5-10 minutes. 5 hours later and still not a call or confirmation sms/email for the booking like I normally receive.

Due to waiting almost two months the top tooth has completely broken off inside my gum and I'm in extreme pain daily, unable to sleep or function at my job without using contant pain****ers. I appeal to your human side when I ask you if you feel this is ethically right ? I am a healthcare worker and I believe this is the reason for this extreme discrimanation. I always believed drs were to first do no harm yet I see now this is not the morals your company is built on. I am appalled by the pathetic service and disregard for human pain and suffering shown by your company. I understand that Covid 19 has everyone afraid but this is morally and ethically unacceptable.

Please explain to me why this has happened to me and what makes me deserve this level of treatment. I will be following up with the health professions council to explore my options as the top tooth has completely broken off inside my gum and it is a direct result of your company's negligence.

In conclusion , after more than 10 calls not returned as promised I don't expect a response on this email as this is what your company has shown me is the norm. Yet I will continue to pursue this matter till I am satisfied as I believe that if I was not a healthcare worker I wouldn't have had any of these problems. I am being punished by fellow healthcare professionals for risking my life daily during this crisis and that is the most disgusting part of it all.