Fundi, South Africa’s leading education finance and student solutions provider, has launched FundiHealth: a healthcare platform designed to meet the unique needs of students, young professionals and organisations committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of their people.
As part of its digital transformation and enablement strategy, Fundi has launched its own healthcare platform: FundiHealth.
Born out of Fundi’s deep understanding of the challenges students face and the recognition that health is a critical enabler of success, the platform offers affordable quality healthcare solutions for students and young professionals. “We’ve always believed that education unlocks potential, but we also see every day how poor health and the inability to afford care can derail even the most promising futures,” explains Benedict Johnson, Fundi Executive Head: EBS and New Initiatives. “Our platform was created with one clear purpose in mind: to remove healthcare as a barrier to education, productivity and meaningful participation in the economy.”
The solution has been launched at a time when South Africa is grappling with a significant gap in healthcare coverage. According to the Council for Medical Schemes (2024), over 80% of South Africans do not belong to a medical aid scheme and rely entirely on the overstretched public health system. Young people are particularly vulnerable notes Charles Irumba, FundiHealth Executive: “Research from the Board of Healthcare Funders (2023) shows that fewer than 12% of students and young professionals under the age of 30 have adequate medical cover. This lack of access has serious implications not only for individual wellbeing but also for South Africa’s productivity and growth.” Data from Statistics South Africa (2024) further supports this; with absenteeism due to preventable illness costing the economy over R16 billion annually, with students and entry-level workers among the most affected.
“When students drop out of school because of untreated illnesses – including stress, depression or anxiety – or when young professionals miss work and lose income as a result, it has a detrimental effect on them as well as their families,” says Irumba. “FundiHealth ensures that young South Africans stay healthy in class and at work, contributing meaningfully to their futures and to our country’s growth and development.”
The new platform offers affordable, accessible medical cover that includes access to private doctors, medication, mental health support and preventative care services, all designed to fit the budgets of students, families and young professionals. “Critically, we’ve also created an option that allows organisations to offer their entry-level staff healthcare benefits at a fraction of the cost of traditional schemes. This is ideal for SMMEs and growing businesses, as it will assist them improve staff retention, morale and productivity,” adds Johnson. “Employers often underestimate the economic impact of poor health among their youngest and most vulnerable employees. By offering a healthcare solution like FundiHealth, they’re not just supporting their people, they’re strengthening their businesses too. Healthy employees are more engaged, more present and more productive. It’s a win-win.”
Beyond immediate productivity benefits, FundiHealth also has the potential to alleviate pressure on South Africa’s public health system by shifting some demand into the private sector and by promoting preventative care among young people. “If we want to grow as a nation, we have to keep our young people healthy in body, mind and spirit,” notes Irumba. “That’s what FundiHealth is all about. Good health is not a ‘nice-to-have’. It is a fundamental part of what it takes to succeed.”
FundiHealth is available to students, their families, young professionals and organisations at fundihealth.co.za. Customers can both explore different plan options and sign-up online.
“With FundiHealth, we’re tackling one of the most overlooked challenges to achieving one’s full potential: health. Good health underpins everything. By keeping our students and young professionals healthy, we’re keeping their dreams alive and South Africa moving forward,” Johnson concludes.
