December 13, 2024

Phakamisa Sustainability and Innovation Summit advances healthcare resilience in South Africa

In a boost to South Africa’s healthcare resilience, the first Phakamisa Sustainability and Innovation Summit has paved the way for more effective, efficient and equitable delivery of high-quality healthcare across the country.  

Hosted at the Embassy of Sweden, the first-of-its-kind summit focused on prevention and early detection, capacity building and health equity, and optimising the use of innovation to build sustainable healthcare systems. The summit delved into issues of growing concern, including non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease, which have increased dramatically in South Africa in recent decades. 

Pre-eminent speakers came from across the healthcare ecosystem, including Deputy Minister of Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, as well as representatives from businesses, patient groups, non-governmental organisations and the United Nations. 

To kick off the event, global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca signed a partnership agreement with Rare Diseases South Africa, supporting the creation of a national registry for rare diseases and providing training and help for young patients and caregivers aged 18–30 affected by rare diseases. One in 15 South Africans is estimated to be affected by rare diseases – the collective name for more than 7 000 different conditions. The partnership will increase understanding of the burden of rare diseases in South Africa and improve equitable healthcare for those affected. 

In addition, AstraZeneca announced an expansion of its existing collaboration with Medsol AI Solutions, which deploys state-of-the-art Wi-Fi ultrasound probes to detect lesions at high risk of breast cancer in seconds. The artificial intelligence rapid-detection app has already been rolled out in rural Melusi and Daspoort Poli clinics in Tshwane to help with early disease detection. It will now be expanded to breast cancer screening programmes at Tintswalo Breast Health Clinic, Groote Schuur Hospital Breast Clinic and Quadcare Clinic in Alexandra. 

Pelin Incesu, area vice-president for the Middle East and Africa at AstraZeneca, stated: “In partnership with the government and other stakeholders, AstraZeneca is working tirelessly to strengthen South Africa’s healthcare system by focusing on providing equitable access to care and medicines and exploring innovative technology that can detect disease at an earlier stage, improving patient outcomes.

“The Phakamisa Sustainability and Innovation Summit provides a platform to collectively explore new ways to prevent emerging threats to health like non-communicable diseases, to diagnose patients earlier and quicker, and to ensure all healthcare practitioners have the skills to deliver top-quality care to patients – no matter who they are or where they live.”

Deputy Minister Dhlomo added, “We are committed to delivering quality healthcare services for all South Africans, and that means working with partners across the public, private and third sector to ensure our health system is sustainable and resilient, able to meet current and future challenges. With non-communicable diseases rising, prevention, early detection and capacity building are at the forefront of these efforts.”

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