Poor benefits for Members from Pold

To the Honourable Minister General Bheki Cele.

I'm now forced to write to the Minister in respect of the medical aid for police officers POLMED. POLMED is now abusing it's members ie our "men in blue". The current board has changed its benefits so many times that hospitals and doctors actually behave in the manner that we dont want to treat POLMED members. I'm a victim of this type of treatment.

Mr Minister shouldn't the SAPS members get the best medical attention and treatment and not to worry that they must fork out money to pay the hospital or doctors as POLMED doesn't cover them. Our officers should not be shouldered with this worry of been handed over to collection agencies as they need to focus on their task of doing policing. It's a shame that benefits are limited at all times. I believe that all police officers should receive the best medical aid in the country as they are the dividing line between law and order.

POLMED has money to change its logo and pay board members who are not really interested in representing our police officers.

Why should they have to worry? The board is also making changes without the consultation of its members. It is so difficult to contact the principal officer or the POLMED board. Why do they hide their contact from us as I wouldn't be using this forum or other forums to complain.

Mr Minister it's time that government ensures that POLMED becomes one of the best medical aid and not be as one of the worse medical aid. In a recent study of medical aid's POLMED was in the top ten as one of the worst medical aid. Imagine that GEMS is actually better than POLMED.

This is why members have a high rate of stress and cannot focus on the job as you are constantly hounded to pay up or you will be handed over and then your name is placed as a debtor you are then unable to buy a car/house etc. This is also one reason that officers leave the organisation.

I've served my country with distinction and long before Social Crime became a "buzz word" I implemented it and sent up my dissertation. Please look at the Sedibeng Municipality where I established the first Community Safety board which is in good hands of Mr Peter Kele. So when I look at the problems of policing ensure that our officers get the best and be the number one medical aid. Yes we might have some officers who might abuse the benefits but deal with those dont punish the rest of them.

Mr Minister make POLMED a great medical aid and not a restrictive one.

Sincere Regards

Shabir Laing (Retired Colonel)