Medical schemes have a new audit-governance deadline to manage. The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) Audit Quality Indicators (AQI) submission platform is now live, and the submission deadline is 20 November 2026. Audit and risk committees should confirm that the auditor assessment process is complete and that the required supporting records are ready.

The update was highlighted in SAICA’s November 2026 technical update. It is relevant to medical scheme trustees, audit and risk committees, finance teams and auditors involved in the appointment or approval of medical scheme auditors.

What has changed

The CMS platform must be used to submit Audit Quality Indicators assessments for the appointment of medical scheme auditors. Audit and risk committees are required to assess prospective auditors using the CMS AQIs. They may also request supporting evidence before finalising the assessment.

The completed assessment forms part of the auditor approval process. This means the appointment process should not be treated as separate from the scheme’s governance and reporting controls. The committee should be able to demonstrate how it considered the prospective auditor’s suitability and the information supporting its conclusion.

Who is affected

The immediate impact falls on medical schemes and their audit and risk committees. Finance executives, company secretaries, trustees and audit firms may also need to coordinate the information required for a complete submission.

According to SAICA’s summary, a complete submission must include the relevant annual general meeting minutes or extract, or a Board of Trustees resolution. Where the scheme has changed audit firms, the submission must also include the reports required under section 36(5)(c) of the Medical Schemes Act.

What committees should check

  • Confirm who is responsible for completing and approving the AQI assessment.
  • Check that the assessment is based on the CMS AQIs and supported by appropriate evidence.
  • Locate the relevant AGM minutes, extract or Board of Trustees resolution.
  • Identify whether the audit firm has changed and, if so, obtain the additional reports required for the submission.
  • Allow time for internal review before the 20 November 2026 deadline.

Practical next steps

Medical schemes should begin with a document-reconciliation exercise. Compare the committee’s auditor appointment records with the information intended for submission, resolve missing approvals and confirm that the supporting documents relate to the current appointment cycle.

The finance team should also retain a clear audit trail of the assessment, evidence considered, approvals obtained and final submission. This will help the scheme respond efficiently if the CMS requests clarification and will support future governance reviews.

This development is sector-specific, but it illustrates a broader accounting lesson: audit appointments increasingly depend on documented governance processes, not only on the final signed financial statements. Businesses and regulated entities should ensure that their accounting records, committee resolutions and compliance submissions tell a consistent story.

For support with financial reporting controls and accounting compliance processes, businesses can explore Your Financial Partner’s accounting and advisory services.