Dear Valued Client,

Little did any of us anticipate less than three months ago when entering this new decade that the world would be facing the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Stock markets have been tumbling, borders have been closed, entire cities have shut down, and healthcare systems have been overwhelmed.  In South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a national state of disaster and a 21-day national lockdown.  

For doctors, these unpredictable times come with their own stresses, given the high risk of occupational exposure to the virus and the implications for personal safety and that of loved ones.  For those in private practice, the need for self-isolation where this arises and a delay in the performance of elective surgical procedures to free up critical care beds and services may impact businesses.  Furthermore, new medico-legal dilemmas may present themselves as healthcare services are stretched beyond capacity. 

Amongst these floods of uncertainty, we at EthiQal would like to use this opportunity to reassure you of our support in addressing the challenges and answering your queries.   Whereas we have been and will be less visible than usual as a result of having cancelled all CPD and sales events until further notice and not visiting hospitals and doctors’ rooms in line with national efforts to reduce unnecessary social contacts, together with the national lockdown, there will be no interruptions in our services to you. 

• If you have questions regarding your policy cover or renewal, your usual client relationship consultant or broker will be available to assist you remotely via email, phone calls or Skype calls.  Alternatively, you can contact us at info@ethiqal.co.za with any queries you may have.

• In the event of claims being made against you, or where you are seeking medico-legal advice or practical guidance in terms of managing the risk of your practice, our medico-legal team can be reached via the normal channels, including via email at claims@ethiqal.co.za or phone at (021) 007 4527.  

• For any COVID-specific questions, please phone us on (011) 686 4370 or e-mail us at info@ethiqal.co.za. All calls will be directed to our medico-legal advisor who is on standby to assist.   We will furthermore be sharing answers to specific medico-legal questions raised in the context of this pandemic by our policyholders soonest, based on queries received thus far.

During this time where only rapid change seems certain, we remain committed to providing stability and support wherever we can.  To this end we are monitoring all relevant developments closely.  We hope that the knowledge that our policy and related services are designed to protect and support you will provide some peace of mind to you during these turbulent times. 

Warm regards,

Peter Todd
Chief Executive Officer: Constantia Insurance Group