The QASA Access to Health Project is a valuable partnership to ensure a gold standard in bladder management
QASA has a valuable project: the Access to Health (AtH) project in partnership with Coloplast. It has continued its pursuit of improving standards of care for those with spinal cord injuries in 2022 through its participation in the Clinical Advisory Panel (CAP) of the Southern African Spinal Cord Association (SASCA). The CAP published the South African clinical guidelines on the management of the neurogenic bladder in spinal cord injured people in 2019.
Over the last year, QASA hosted two member webinars discussing managing one’s bladder efficiently (catheterisation) and how to navigate challenges with medical aids that do not pay for catheters and other care. These were presented by Dr Virginia Wilson, from Netcare Rehab Auckland Park, and Elsabé Klinck, a health law expert, respectively. They were well attended, proving the need for better health management for our members, which drives our commitment to continue our advocacy in this critical area.
We had open discussions and contributions from members on personal experiences. Members were encouraged to contact QASA directly should they be experiencing any challenges with either or both the above for assistance. Most importantly, where possible, they were encouraged to return to a specialised Spinal Rehabilitation Centres for any spine, bladder and bowel-related care. QASA may assist with contact details for these Centres.
QASA and CAP hosted a symposium at the South African Urology Association (SAUA) Conference where the Bladder Guidelines were presented by Dr Michelle van Zyl to Urology specialists and nurses. This was complemented by the sharing of the personal challenges and lived realities experienced by spinal cord injured people, presented by Ari Seirlis. The theme of the Symposium was “we refuse to reuse” and recommend that Urologists prescribe single-use catheters to their patients.
QASA also presented the guidelines to the Medical Advisors Groups (MAG) via a webinar. Medical advisors advise medical aid schemes on which medical benefits to cover and for whom. QASA is pursuing meetings with the regulator of medical aids to encourage them to ensure that, by law, appropriate benefits are covered for spinal cord injuries.
We will continue to expand awareness into 2023 and urge you to keep active in this area. You can do this by encouraging other members to join and support QASA, report areas of concern (or commendation), and increase the share of voice of civil society.
This project with QASA is a part of Coloplast global headquarter in Denmark. Despite the geographical distance, the company is supporting the project and being true to its mission of “making life easier for those with intimate health conditions”.
Contact QASA if you have any concerns about the funding of your catheters to ensure that you do not reuse and are adequately reimbursed. Contact QASA at info@qasa.co.za.
