What is the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA)?
Medshield
Medical Scheme believes that everyone has a right to privacy as provided for
and protected by the RSA Constitution. The provisions of the Protection of
Personal Information (POPI) Act (4 of 2013) further elaborates in the
protection of this fundamental human right.
The
Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) promotes the
protection of personal information processed by public and private bodies. The
said Act seeks to balance the right to privacy against other rights, such as
access to information.
On
26 November 2013, the President signed into law the Protection of Personal
Information Act (POPIA). Following the appointment of the Regulator in December
2016 and the publishing of the final POPI regulations in December 2018. The
effective date for POPIA is 01st of July 2020. Organisations has a
12 month grace period which is until the 30 June 2021 to implement measures to
adhere to the said Act.
Medshield
Medical Scheme is classified as a Responsible Party by virtue of its function,
as a result, the Scheme will be implementing a number of measures to ensure
that we comply with the protection of our members’ personal information.
What constitutes personal information?
This is personal information that identifies a person, and Medshield safeguards this personal information of our members. The personal information include information such as your:
- Name, address, e-mail address and phone number
- Race, nationality, ethnicity, origin, colour, religious or political beliefs or associations
- Age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status or family status
- Identity number, code or symbol
- Blood type or any other biometric information
- Medical history and record.