14 March 2008
	HEALTH-CARE POLITICS Rumours a headache By Shoks Mzolo

A year-long dispute between The Headache Clinic and Discovery has led to the clinic's founder asking the medical scheme to stop an alleged smear campaign against it. Headache Clinic founder Dr Elliott Shevel sa ys the dispute has gone on for a while and all he wants is that Discovery desist from a "smear campaign" and "spreading rumours to discredit us". The exact reasons for the disagreement remain vague. Discovery does not cover the cost of treatment at the clinic. In 2001, under it s then principal officer Shaun Mattison, Discovery instructed auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers to probe the clinic's records. Headache Clinic MD Danny Shevel confirmed that th e audit led to 281 charges being laid against it with the Health Professionals Council of SA. The council confirmed the cases this week, but a spokes man was unable to provide further details. The Shevels' complaint - they are father and son - is that despite no further action being taken against them, inferences are being made that they are being investigated. Says Danny Shevel: "For five years they [Discovery] kept telling members they wouldn't pay because Dr Shevel [senior] was under investigation. It took five years of waiting, but in the end, all charges were thrown out - in one hour. Why is it then that, to this day, they still say Dr Shevel is under investigation?" Discovery did not respond to requests for comment this week. Despite the Discovery setback, Shevel's clinic has thrived during its 12 years of existence. It has grown to three branches, and about 1 000 new patients consult the clinic in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban every year.