BHF Titanium Awards celebrate a lifetime of leadership and the next generation rising to meet it

Two award winners, a generation apart, anchored this year’s Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) Titanium Awards, held during the BHF’s annual conference: one honouring decades at the frontline of health policy and diplomacy, the other marking the arrival of a new standard in clinical excellence.

The Dr Humphrey Zokufa Lifetime Achievement Award went to Malebona Precious Matsoso (pictured), whose career has shaped healthcare leadership on both a national and global stage.

From CEO of the Medicines Control Council to director-general of South Africa’s National Department of Health, and later co-chair of the world’s first Pandemic Agreement adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2025, her leadership has consistently centred on equitable access to quality healthcare and stronger health systems – work recognised internationally through the 2025 Doha Best Negotiator of the Year Award and her inclusion in Nature Journal‘s “Nature’s 10”.

The Dr Clarence Mini Titanium Award for Young Achiever went to Dr Aayesha Soni, South Africa’s first female adult epileptologist and the only neurologist in sub-Saharan Africa formally trained in stereo-electroencephalography, the global gold standard in managing complex epilepsy cases.

Within just a few years of qualifying, Dr Soni established the first adult epilepsy surgery service in a South African public hospital and launched the RISE Initiative, a pro bono programme bringing life-changing epilepsy surgery into the public healthcare sector.

Together, the two awards captured the spirit of the evening: recognition not for a moment but for the sustained work behind it.

In closing, Dr Katlego Mothudi, managing director of the BHF, said: “Tonight is not about the moment of recognition. It is about the years of dedication that made this moment possible; the early mornings, the late nights, the decisions made when no patient was watching, and the quiet commitment to excellence that ultimately changes lives.”

Delegates carried with them a reminder from Dr Vuyane Mhlomi, co-founder of Quro Medical and winner of the Award for Best Innovator in Healthcare: “We are the help.”

Other award winners

Titanium Award for Excellence in Creating Access to Quality Healthcare: Bestmed Medical Scheme

Bestmed has a well-defined corporate social investment (CSI) framework. The main intent of the scheme’s CSI initiatives is to benefit previously disadvantaged members of society in a sustainable manner. The initiatives help the scheme achieve its objective of being a good corporate citizen by continuing to give back to the communities in which Bestmed operates. In addition to the CSI budget, Bestmed also implements initiatives that require its employees to contribute and be involved. It is important for the scheme to nurture an organisational culture of caring.

Titanium Award for Best Integrated Report – Health Funders or Medical Schemes: Bonitas Medical Fund

Bonitas Medical Fund’s Integrated Annual Report reflects the scheme’s strong commitment to corporate governance, transparency and sustainability in line with the Medical Schemes Act and King IV principles. The report provides stakeholders with a comprehensive overview of the scheme’s strategy operational performance, healthcare impact, empowerment initiatives and ongoing commitment to member satisfaction and responsible governance.

Titanium Award for Best Integrated Report – Corporate in Healthcare: Afrocentric Group

AfroCentric’s Integrated Report reflects the group’s commitment to transparent reporting, integrated thinking and sustainable value creation. The report provides stakeholders with insight into the group’s governance, strategic performance, material risks and opportunities, societal impact and future prospects, while demonstrating how integrated thinking informed decision-making during a particularly challenging year.

Titanium Award for Service to Membership – Open, Closed, and Self-administered Medical Schemes as well as Administrators and Managed Care Organisations: Bestmed Medical Scheme

Bestmed Medical Scheme has consistently been recognised as a leader in customer experience and member satisfaction within the South African medical schemes industry. Through its strong service culture, member-focused innovation and commitment to delivering personalised healthcare experiences, Bestmed has achieved multiple independent industry accolades for customer satisfaction, loyalty and service excellence over several consecutive years.

Category B – Operational Performance: Bonitas Medical Scheme

Bonitas Medical Fund continues to demonstrate strong operational performance and a sustained commitment to service excellence through efficient claims processing, accessible member support platforms and consistent membership growth. Through its multi-channel member engagement strategy, investment in talent and skills development, and focus on governance, transformation and quality healthcare access, Bonitas continues to strengthen member satisfaction while delivering responsive and reliable healthcare administration services.

Award for Best Innovator in Healthcare: Quro Medical

Quro Medical is a majority black-owned South African digital health company founded in 2018 by Dr Vuyane Mhlomi and Zikho Pali, focused on transforming healthcare delivery across Africa through innovative, technology-enabled care models. The company pioneered Africa’s first reimbursable hospital at home service, now supported by most major medical schemes in South Africa. Quro Medical’s model extends beyond traditional telemedicine and home-based care by integrating real-time remote patient monitoring, clinical data intelligence, in-person medical care, physician oversight, intravenous therapy, oxygen support, medication management, laboratory services and allied healthcare into a single co-ordinated system.

Titanium Award for Best Paper

Shannon Knight: “Real World Risk Adjustment to support equitable access to healthcare”

Titanium Award for Best Exhibition Stand – Small, Mid-size and Large

• Small: Hearconnect
• Mid-size: Afrocentric Health
• Large: GEMS