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South African Rheumatism and Arthritis Association: SARAA

September bulletin

Date: 01-09-2001

Greetings to all, from David Gotlieb
It looks like we are well into the 2^nd half of 2001 and EULAR has come and gone, ILAR has just finished, and the ACR, to be held in San Francisco in November is around the corner.

The sad news that I have to tell all, is that the MSD forum is not going to be held as planned this year due to budget cuts. I have tried to squeeze funds for a trimmed meeting as per my last newsletter. However, even this has now been withdrawn, and MSD apologizes profusely for the cancellation, and has promised me that they will restart in the new year. In fact, they are unable to sponsor meetings for arthritis week. I have forwarded our thanks for their input to-date and will obviously try to ensure that they resume in 2002, as they afforded us the unique opportunity of meeting more frequently. The bad news that goes with this bad news is that council cannot meet as planned and I suggest we meet in San Francisco – in anticipation of most people being there. Other pharmaceutical companies are expressing interest in rheumatology meetings in 2002, so we will keep you informed.

 In the meanwhile, we have lots of work to do, especially as bone and joint week approaches. As per our bulletins and notices, we are hoping to have numerous meetings round the country at that time.

Positive responses regarding potential sponsorship has come from…

Pharmacia                
Contact person Hazel Ridell

hazel.riddell@pharmacia.com

Aventis          
Contact person Crstina Kocovaos
Cristina.Kocovaos@aventis.com

Schering Plough
Contact person Doris Diederiks
doris.diederiks@spcorp.com

Don’t be shy to ask – what we are suggesting are low budget meetings with the public / Doctors at member discretion.

The Doctors out there who will be doing meetings include:
Dr I Anderson – who has organised a meeting at his institute
Prof Mody will be holding an open Day at the New  Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital on Wednesday17th October.

Dr Gotlieb will be holding a public meeting with lectures on arthritis and osteoporosis.

Dr Halland and Dr Louw are planning on holding a meeting in the northern suburbs.

Remember to feedback to us what’s going on. Bone and joint decade committee also want the information in Sweden.

On the private practice side – SAMA is in a bit of chaos with controversy pending between its’ board and its administrators. Nevertheless, negotiations are proceeding with the medical aids / board of health care funders, regarding issues like tariffs and implementation of CPT4. It would appear the surgeons are opposed to CPT4. My own position is that time based charging is the way to go – with an appropriate rand – unit value for the consulting specialties.

Christopher Lyddell will keep us informed and we will feed back further.

Feedback from Naomi Rapeport of the Association of Clinical Consulting Specialists (ACCS) has been sent to the members. The most relevant paragraph I quote here

“Regarding the profession it is important for practitioners to realise that those who charge members according to BHF will never get any increase in income. Next years projected CPI is 5%! ”

Please note that we have observer status only at the PPC meetings. In discussion with Dr Duys, one of the main consulting specialty negotiators, and he advises that

“SARAA should become affiliated to the Association of Clinical Consulting Specialists (ACCS), which group, currently steered by Naomi Rapeport and Colin Schamroth, includes all the various "physician" sub-specialties and has two/three seats on the Specialist PPC.”

We will discuss this at the next EXCO but it strikes me as a logical thing to do, and doesn’t commit us to any link financially or otherwise with SAMA at this time.

On the next important subject: I have received a letter from Bone and joint decade calling for nominations for 2 international programs.

The first will be presented in New York on 20-21 October. This will recognize exceptional effort and programs during the year 2000 that meet the mission of bone and joint decade. Award categories include;  awareness, research funding relations, partnerships and achievement.

The second will be a call for ambassadors for Bone and joint decade. It is a program designed to recognize global and national thought leaders in the musculoskeletal health professional and patient communities to promote the Decades mission within their disciplines and countries.

I can the document to interested parties for your perusal, and require nominations by 8 september – leaving enough time for papaerwork etc.. to meet the deadline on 10 September.

PLEASE CONSIDER THIS URGENT AS I RECEIVED IT MYSELF LATE.

Till next time
Keep well

Regards

Dr David Gotlieb

PS – Remember life is tough – but it could be worse…

so…

help me help you…..