Managing My Psoriatic Arthritis in South Africa
Psoriatic arthritis truly affects us in so many ways. About 20% of people who suffer from psoriasis also experience psoriatic arthritis.1 Hopefully, as they continue to study and research, we will see more and more affordable and available treatments for those of us who suffer from this. I do hope so.
Living in South Africa, which is a magnificent place, has given me a different perspective and a very different experience with psoriatic arthritis. The challenges that we face in this country often surpass that which is shown in the media.
What does insurance look like?
Private medical aid which is similar to medical insurance is one of the ways that you can get some coverage for medical expenses. It is very expensive and can easily consume about 30% of your monthly income. That being said, this is possibly not even a comprehensive cover, which means that something like psoriatic arthritis is not covered. On my current plan, mine is not. So everything I do and pay for in connection with my psoriatic arthritis is done out of pocket. There are government facilities that you can go to, they require many days off work and this is not always possible in our work environment. This can make it very hard to get the treatment that you need.
What are my psoriatic arthritis treatment options?
I am often in awe at the choices that other countries and systems have available to their citizens, ours are sparse and not easy to come by. It is a stretch for you to get medications, that are widely used in other countries, to treat your PSA. In my experience, the best offers I have gotten in the past, are NASID, steroid injections, and methotrexate. I have recently heard that there may be a possibility of one or two more medications making their way to our shores and that would be wonderful.
What are the financial implications?
In health groups, we often talk about the symptoms and effects that psoriatic arthritis has on our bodies and lives. I do think that there is something we do not cover often enough. The financial implications of psoriatic arthritis. Also, the implication of these costs and access in our country is a real struggle for some people. Getting safe access to quality treatment is something that I feel should be available to everyone who needs it. There are few things sadder for me that there are people in all countries and mine in particular this is so prevalent.
Why do I speak up?
I advocate loudly in South Africa, and I try and share as much information and resources as I can with people in need. Furthermore, generally, I openly speak about both my psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. I strongly believe that knowledge is power and so many people I speak to have never even heard of psoriatic arthritis. I love talking to people and sharing knowledge and experience about living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. With more people speaking up and taking their symptoms to their doctors we can hopefully get more treatment options too.
Diagnosis can be very overwhelming but also so validating at the same time. Knowing what is happening with your body, is so important, that way you can look into lifestyle changes and manage your pain levels.
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