Discovery sustainable development report 2016 - Healthy and prosperous COMMUNITIES

Healthy and prosperous
COMMUNITIES

There is no clear divide between our business, our clients, our employees and the communities in which we live. We contribute to building healthier and more prosperous communities both through our core business as well as through our social programmes.

Social programmes are largely focused in South Africa (where operations account for 68% of the group’s revenue), and include the work of the Discovery Fund and the Discovery Foundation, as well as a vibrant employee volunteer scheme.

During 2016, the Discovery Fund sharpened the focus of its community engagement work, shifting its efforts to support for community health organisations working on material and child health, HIV/Aids and Tuberculosis (TB), by focusing in particular on their capital and skills development. Grants were awarded to 57 projects by the Fund, at a total cost of close to R29.5 million.

The Discovery Foundation celebrated ten years of operation in 2016. During this ten-year period, the Foundation has invested over R160 million in grants towards the education and training of 300 280 healthcare specialists and the development of academic medicine and research centres.

Understanding the challenges in healthcare

Discovery has undertaken independent and in-depth research to understand what medical skills and expertise are needed to give disadvantaged communities in South Africa access to better healthcare, and what steps are needed not only to keep those skills, but to develop them further.

South Africa needs more medical skills

South Africa does not have enough skilled medical professionals in all areas of healthcare to meet its people's needs

The country is not currently training enough people to fill these gaps

Medical education is a long and expensive process, so a long-term approach is required to address this problem

There are not enough skilled and experienced specialists to teach medical skills

Medical skills are concentrated in urban areas and medical specialists are leaving rural areas where they are most needed

There are several environmental issues – such as working and living conditions – that also contribute to healthcare challenges in South Africa

In 2017, we will seek to enhance our community development impact further through a new system for monitoring and evaluating the outcomes of our community initiatives.

We recognise that our ability to grow relies on an active economy and a productive workforce. We therefore focus on economic inclusion through enterprise and supplier development, as well as through preferential procurement programmes, which aim to create opportunities for new business entrants and entrepreneurs.

R9.6 million

Discovery’s contribution to the economic inclusion of small- and medium-sized enterprises, entrepreneurs and the youth during 2016

R3.3 billion

Or 89% of total procurement spend in South Africa was channeled towards preferential procurement groups

Partnering with the City of Johannesburg

Through a long-term partnership with the City of Johannesburg we leverage the expertise within our business and the energy and commitment of our employees to make a meaningful contribution to this unique city.

Watch a webcast on the City of Johannesburg partnership here.