Guardian Angel

Aids is devastating South Africa, and according to Dippenaar, it is a direct result of poverty, social instability and a lack of government action in the past “The average life expectancy in South Africa is currently 54 years. Without Aids,” he says, “it would be 64. Thanks to Aids, over half of our current 15-year-olds are not expected to reach the age of 60.”
Another scary fact is that about 90 000 private patients and 650 000 public patients are on anti-retrovirals. “This means that only about 10% of the HIV positive patients are currently on treatment in South Africa,” Dippenaar states. People are dying as a result: according to the Harvard School of Public Health, more than 330 000 South Africans died between 2000 and 2005 because they didn’t have access to these drugs.
There is absolutely no doubt that, in his capacity as Chairman and Medical Director of Optipharm Healthcare and One Health, Dippenaar is certainly doing his share to fight the battle. In fact, around 30 000 South Africans depend on Optipharm Healthcare and One Health for their monthly anti-retrovirals.
He qualified as a medical doctor in 1991 after obtaining his BSc Hons degree in physiology. He began his career in medicine as a medical officer at Letaba Hospital, Gazankulu. “It was an amazing experience – challenging and extremely tough, long hours, and little pay, but I enjoyed every moment. I couldn’t afford a car and so lived on the hospital grounds,” he recalls. While there, he gained invaluable experience in trauma surgery, anaesthetics, gynaecology, obstetrics and general surgery.
His rural tenure became a thing of the past when Dippenaar moved to Johannesburg, where he met Marlene, his wife of 15 years. He took over Bromhof Medical Centre in 1995, and established one of the most successful medical clinics in Northern Gauteng (it had about 60 000 patients). And in 1999 he opened a sports clinic in with Dr Ron Holder.
His attention soon shifted to the area of HIV/Aids, and his focus turned to research and management of the pandemic. When businessman Joshua Burger suggested that they help the thousands of HIV positive South Africans, he agreed immediately. “Josh was my second patient in private practice in 1993, we have been friends since,” he explains. “I accredit my success in business to the trust, friendship and vision Josh and I share, and most of all, Marlene’s support.”
 
That was five years ago. Today Optipharm Healthcare is the biggest HIV/Aids-related medication distribution company in South Africa. The original concept was that of a courier pharmacy specialising in HIV medication. “We decided that we would distribute nationally and also cross-border to a limited extent.”
 
The business grew like wildfire – today there are two companies in the group: Optipharm and One Health Managed Care. “One Health Managed Care supplies the information systems and the clinical intellectual property for the disease management processes for optimal patient management and compliance. It is an accredited managed care organisation,” he explains. Optipharm distributes the vital, life-saving drugs.
 
“We have about 30 000 patients and interact with 28 medical schemes,” explains Dippenaar. Optipharm has branches in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. The company also contracts to various corporate clients. “We take care of their HIV positive employees,” he says. “We don't, however, take the GP out of the equation; we assist them, because HIV is such a specific field,” he explains. Optipharm works in conjunction with an advisory panel consisting of South Africa’s top seven HIV specialists.
 
When GPs give scripts to HIV-positive patients, the script goes to Optipharm (assuming the medical scheme is contracted to Optipharm Healthcare), who checks it carefully and then despatches the drugs to the patient.
 
The entire process is very intricate. “We have limited anti-retroviral drugs available and, if you start the patient on the wrong drugs then your future treatment options are limited.
 
Dippenaar’s job is extremely demanding, which means that 'time out' is extremely important. He still wakeboards, gyms or surfs whenever time permits and loves travelling. Another way he unwinds is by driving his pitch black Jaguar XKR Convertible. The dedicated doctor says that he decided to buy a ‘super car’ two years ago. “I looked at various options… Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin, Porsche, Ferrari. Marlene suggested I consider a Jaguar but, to be frank, I was hesitant; I thought it was only suitable for older drivers.”
 
Hook line and sinker
After one look at the XKR, he was hooked. “It is style, class and elegance personified. For the first time, I am turning heads. Unfortunately it is thanks to the car!” he jokes.
 
Dippenaar says he adores the 'Batmobile lines' of the XKR. “It just looks so incredibly good; it’s a really beautiful car.” He also enjoys the interior: “I admire it every time I climb into my car.”
 
Then, of course, there is the powerful engine. “I have always been a fan of extremely fast cars and the XKR fits this bill perfectly,” notes Dippenaar. The XKR is equipped with a mighty supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine, which churns out 375kW of power and propels the car from zero to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds. A whopping 625Nm of torque is on tap.
 
He is particularly pleased with the fact that he decided on the Convertible. “I love the wind in my hair,” the bald doctor comments with a laugh.
 
The exemplary sound system gets the thumbs up too. “The Bowers & Wilkins sound system is superb. I have all my best CDs in the Jaguar, because the musical quality is so good; I feel as though I’m in a concert hall when I am listening to music in my XKR.” The XKR’s 525W surround sound system boasts AM/FM radio, a six-disc, in-dash CD changer with MP3 compatibility, portable audio interface, and extraordinary clarity and sound reproduction.
 
The intangibles associated with the car are the most enjoyable; the emotions that go hand in hand with driving a Jaguar. “I feel as though I’m a famous movie star. Wherever I go, people stare and approach me, commenting that my car is the most beautiful vehicle they’ve ever seen. The consensus is always that it’s a stunning car.”
 
Of course, his excursions in his sensational Jaguar are short-lived: this is a man who is devoted to his profession. But there is still a long path to travel in fighting this dreaded virus. And the question has to be asked: can we eliminate the HI virus? Or is this just a pipedream?
 
“I think we can beat it… one day,” he responds cautiously. “We are already containing the virus; it’s gone from being a global fatal disease to a global chronic disease. With research, I do believe that we will be able to kill it one day.”