The Profmed medical aid scheme Board of Trustees
Profmed medical aid scheme is managed by a Board of Trustees, of which five are elected by members and five are appointed by the Board. Trustees must be members of the Scheme. The Board must annually, at the first meeting after the annual general meeting, elect a chairman and vice-chairman from amongst its ranks.
The Board is responsible for the proper and sound management of the Scheme, and in terms of the rules the Board must act with due care, diligence, skill, and in good faith. Profmed medical aid scheme members are fortunate to be served by a Board of Trustees made up of professionals in their various fields.
The members serving on the Board for the 2010/2011 year are:
Ms EL Prins-Van den Berg (Chairman)
With BLC LLB and LLM (Cum Laude) degrees behind her name, Ms Prins-Van den Berg is a qualified attorney, notary and conveyancer of the High Court of SA, and healthcare consultant. Her career in healthcare started at the SA Medical Association (SAMA), after which she joined the Board of Health Executives (Fedsure Health). Ms Prins-Van den Berg practised in her own healthcare consulting business for four years and joined Benguela Health in 2006, consulting in healthcare in South Africa and the rest of Africa.
Dr MM Bhikhoo (Vice-Chairman)
A MB BCh graduate from the University of the Witwatersrand, Dr Bhikhoo also holds a diploma in Tropical Medicine and Health from the same university (1985 – D T M & H). Dr Bhikhoo is an Honorary Lecturer at the Department of Family Medicines at Wits. He served for some years on the Profmed medical aid scheme Disputes Committee before his appointment as a trustee.
Dr AD Behrman
Dr Behrman practised as a general practitioner for 20 years and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of CPC/Qualicare, and medico-legal consultant to the Medical Protection Society of London. He was medical advisor to two Cape-based medical schemes and also a trustee of one. He was previously a Branch Councillor and Federal Councillor of SAMA Cape Western Branch. Dr Behrman has managed a number of health provider and related services organisations, and lectures in medico-legal and medical ethics throughout South Africa.
Dr JB Bekker
As a general practitioner for the past 30 years, Dr Bekker is also Chairman of the Medicross Practitioner Association, a member of the General Practitioners Private Practice Committee (GP-PPC), Executive Member of the Society of General Family Practitioners (SGFP) and National Councilor of the South African Medical Association (SAMA). Dr Bekker has served on the Tygerberg Boland Branch in different capacities, is Chief Executive Officer of Script Data and is a director of the South African Managed Care Coalition (SAMCC).
Mr E Huggett
Mr Huggett was Chief Executive of PPS and Profmed for 15 years prior to the amendments to the Medical Schemes Act and served as a Director of PPS until 2005. He is a trustee and Deputy Chairman of the PPS Retirement Annuity Fund and served as legal advisor to three major South African listed companies. He is currently in private legal practice.
Dr E Nkosi
As a general practitioner practising in Soweto, Dr Nkosi is also Chairman of the Board at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, a non-executive director in the JSE listed company Phumelela Leisure Limited, Chief Executive Officer of the SAMDP Provider Network and a director of various BEE companies and NGOs.
Dr RD Shuttleworth
Dr Shuttleworth was previously a trustee of Profmed from 2006 to 2009. He practised as a general surgeon for 28 years, both in private practice and in the public health sector. He was a lecturer and surgeon at the medical schools of both the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosh University. He is a member of various medical associations, and has served at branch and national level with SAMA.
Mr A Tait
Mr Tait has experience in the pension fund, long-term insurance, property and medical scheme industries. He was employed by PPS as General Manager: Finance and thereafter as General Manager: Business Development. He is currently Chief Executive: Insurance & Investments of CIM Group in Mauritius. He is a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
Mr RN Theunissen
Mr Theunissen obtained a B. Acc. from the University of the Witwatersrand and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1982. He served as Senior Executive of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) for 11 years and continues to serve on various audit committees and boards. He is currently operating a forensic auditing and accounting practice.
Dr EJ Thorburn
Dr Thorburn qualified in dentistry at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1955 and received a post-graduate diploma in Clinical Dentistry (Cum Laude) at the University of Stellenbosch in 2000. He retired from dentistry towards the end of 2004. Dr Thorburn has been a trustee of Profmed medical aid scheme since the inception of the present Board and served as Chairman from 2003 to 2010.
Mr GR Anderson (Principal Officer and Chief Executive)
Mr Anderson practised in his private healthcare consulting business for seven years before joining Profmed as Principal Officer in August 2003, prior to which he was a trustee of Profmed. His years as a pharmacist and later as a senior employee and director of Clinic Holdings Group of hospitals have contributed greatly to Profmed medical aid scheme.
