The Practice Code Numbering System (PCNS) is a unique database of registered healthcare professionals and institutions. The fact that private and public healthcare entities are included in the database, means that the PCNS is also the most comprehensive index of healthcare providers in Southern Africa. The PCNS database system is intended to:

• Create a national asset for the healthcare industry.

• Allow medical funds and the State to assess availability and distribution of delivery resources, which in turn allows for better financial and actuarial planning.

• Allow professional academic organisations with non-commercial interests access to the database in order to facilities professional development.

• Allow improved Internet capability for healthcare information and e-commerce.

Updated information is distributed regularly to all administrators and self-administered funds on CD or by e-mail

By working through the PCNS as a single point of contact, providers are able to reduce practice costs related to stationery, practice administration, faxing, e-mail, etc. As the central repository of registered medical service providers, we request that providers forward all their details to our offices directly and not to the individual schemes.

This allows for swift and convenient updates to our active medical fund membership to be made through our computerized database system.

Practitioners will be entitled to the following benefits for a nominal annual fee:

• Additional costs will not be incurred for registering changes to their practice details.

• Electronic or hard copy benchmark tariff schedules will be supplied free of charge on initial registration and annually on receipt of fees.

• Enhanced Help-Desk facilities will be provided.

• Up-to-date practice details will ensure greater efficiency in the reimbursement system.

If practitioners of health facilities wish not to avail themselves of the abovementioned benefits, payment of the annual fee may be declined.