We are products of the path we take; the decisions we make,” so say words from the Fountain of Wisdom.
Close to a decade ago, while at the career crossroads, a young Dr. Phathiswa made the firm decision to study homeopath at tertiary level. Then, it was something odd in a world in which it was trendy to aspire to be a lawyer, chartered accountant or engineer, qualify and “earn a lot of money and live blissfully thereafter in a exclusive suburb”. But years later, 29 and wiser, she has no regrets.
In fact, as founder and owner of My Health Services, odds are tilted in her business’ favour. A 2014 World Health Organisation (WHO) study noted that homeopath is one of the fastest growing disciplines of medicine, with consistently growing demand for those seeking an a alternative to “conventional” medicine. In addition, in South Africa, silicosis case, in which ailing ex-miners have taken their employees to court, has heightened the significance of organisations regularly conducting screening sessions of employees, most importantly holistic occupation and health issues that are often ignored.
Formed in 2012, My Health Services employs an under-one-roof concept, offering the convenience of a scope of services. It provides occupational health medical examination, which is a legal requirement from the department of labour and occupational health act that companies are compelled to comply. The examinations include lung tests, physical examinations, and screening tests.
The practice also provides wellness events, where it educates company employees on certain health risks and how to potentially avoid them.
“Besides, we offer weight loss programs, female health screening, male health screening, stress management and infectious diseases assessment,” says Dr. Mukansi.
In an increasingly congested private health services market in which consumers cannot easily tell the wheat from the chaff, Dr. Mukansi believes the quality and integrity of My Health Services is what sticks out.
“I won’t hasten to say that our corporate sets us apart from others is that results can be given to customers in less than 15 minutes.”
She also mentions the convenience which My Health Services’ mobile consulting room, brings “at the door-step” service to organisations in far-flung areas.
With My Health Services essentially a mobile business, Dr. Mukansi is seldom in one place, but when she is not engaged, Dr. Mukansi can be found in Fourways Medical Rooms, Witkoppen Ext 3 in Fourways, Johannesburg.
Currently, My Health Services uses sub-contractors. But when need arises at some point, the services of full time employees will be engaged.
There should be no doubt about My Health Services’ credibility. A qualified homeopath, Dr. Mukansi attained her education at the University of Johannesburg. She also holds a Masters Degree of Technology in Homeopathy, which she completed with distinction.
In addition, Dr. Mukansi is accredited by a number of sanctioning bodies. She is a member of the International Employee Assistance Professional (EAP) Association as well as South African Corporate Member of the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (SAIOSH).
On where she gets her mojo in field in which patience is a more than virtue, Dr. Mukansi puts it: “Nothing but passion about health, specification the need to assist people bettering their health.” You have heard it from the horse’s mouth!
Mukansi does not take for granted the fact that My Health Services has outlasted the 12 months failure threshold of the average small business in South Africa. However, she is not entirely surprised at the high rate of start-up failure, pointing out that, notwithstanding other obstacles some entrepreneurs are equally culpable.
“Some people enter the field of business thinking they will be plucking money from trees, without breaking a sweat, in their naivety. They don’t familiarise themselves with the fundamentals in the various departments such as marketing, public relations and human resources management, over and above, any other element that is necessary in the business,” she observes.
Dr. Mukansi is aiming at becoming one of the best and leading health care providers in the country, and, resources permitting and when the right time comes, to venture into other industries like property.
An altruist at heart, who looks beyond herself, Dr. Mukansi would like to see South Africa becoming a better place reflecting the post-1994 values in a number of sectors.
As a health practitioner, naturally, Dr. Mukansi’s biggest wish is to see the Government of South Africa improving the state of public hospitals and health institutions which she believes conditions should be much better than other African countries.
“We should have right structures in place to give people access to the right facilities.
“I believe we are headed in the right direction, but things won’t and can’t change overnight,” she says.
Dr. Mukansi has also noticed that there the voice calling for young people to become job creators, not job seekers is gaining ground. From what she has gathered in the past three years, she has a “doctorly” advice to youth who believe they have a future in investing in health services.
“Be passionate about what you are doing. Be a ‘hustler’, have courage, be passionate, and know what you want and how to get it.
“There are no short cuts in businesses. There is no easy way of making it into the business. Have self-confidence when starting your business. Doesn’t matter what other people think of you,” she explains.
Dr. Mukansi is proud to be at a position where she steers the course of her profession on her own terms. It must have been a brave decision for someone in her mid-twenties to decide to establish her own business at age contemporaries would have been content with merely earning a pay cheque to save towards their first entry level car.
As the news about the growing demand for homeopath spreads faster than raging fire in windy Cape veld, some unqualified charlatans, mainly interested in profit than people’s health, are claiming to have ‘wonder’ cure for every health condition. Nonetheless, in the end, the onus is entirely on people not to be gullible and gamble with their precious health by engaging service providers whose credibility they can’t ascertain. So, Dr. Mukansi warns the public to exercise caution.
My Health Services’ specialty at a glance
1. General services
- Health Risk Assessment
- Weight loss Programs
- Winter Season Treatment
- Joint Pain and Sports Management
- Heart Disease Assessment
- Male Health Screening
- Infectious Diseases Screening
- Emotional Health Screening
- General conditions ( Natural medication)
- Alcohol and Drug testing
- Medical Examination
2. Occupational Health Medical Surveillance and Examinations
- Onsite medical examinations
- Pre-employment medical examinations
- Entrance medical examinations
- Baseline Medical examinations
- Periodic medical examinations
- Exit medical examinations
- Fitness for duty certificates
- Hearing tests (Audiometry)
- Lung Function tests (Spirometry)
- Vision screening(keystone)
- Alcohol and Drug testing
- TB screening
- Health Risk assessments
- Physical examinations
- Wellness screenings
