Conference Programme
CONFERENCE THEME
This year’s conference theme, “Collaborating for Value: Partnerships Transforming the Future of Healthcare – Uniting Parallels,” reflects our focus on strategic alliances that drive innovation, equity, and sustainability across the health ecosystem.
Overall Conference Theme summary
In an era of rapid change, healthcare reform is being reshaped by evolving health needs, rising consumer expectations, and the demand for systems that deliver value. Sustainability across the African region requires bold, transformative partnerships that enable new capabilities, expand access, and build resilient, value-driven systems for a sustainable future that works for everyone.
Day 1
Saturday, 10 May 2025 | Clinical Workshop: 09:00 – 16:00
Programme Director: Dr. Stan Moloabi – BHF Board Member & Principal Officer – GEMS
Workshop theme: The Future of Healthcare: Multidisciplinary Partnerships for Patient-Centred Excellence
Workshop Theme summary: This workshop will explore how multidisciplinary teams can drive innovation, improve patient outcomes, and adapt to healthcare reforms such as National Health Insurance (NHI). Experts from different sectors will share insights on how to break silos; align roles; and enhance care co-ordination for better health system sustainability.
Who needs to attend this session:
Medical professionals: doctors, medical advisors, nurses, physicians and other healthcare professionals seeking to advance their clinical skills and stay informed and up to date around the latest advances in healthcare.
Session 1
| 09:00 – 09:05 | Programme Overview: Dr. Stan Moloabi, BHF Board Member & Principal Officer – GEMS |
| 09:05 – 09:30 | Emerging Trends Shaping Healthcare Delivery: Challenges, Innovations & Opportunities Professor Taryn Young, Distinguished Professor – Stellenbosch University Q & A (5 minutes) |
| 09:35 – 10:20 | Aligning with Universal Health Coverage & Healthcare Reform o Understanding the evolving healthcare landscape and policy shifts o How NHI and other reforms impact healthcare professionals’ roles Dr Magome Masike, Registrar – Health Professions Council SA (HPCSA) & Dr Rajesh Patel, Head of Health Systems Strengthening – Board of Healthcare Funders SA. (BHF) Q & A (10 minutes) |
| 10:30 – 10:55 | AI & The Future of Medicine – Enhancing, Not Replacing, Clinical Decision-Making How AI can support clinicians in diagnostics, treatment planning, and personalised medicine. Dr Brian Ruff, CEO – PPO Serve Q & A (5 minutes) |
| 11:10 – 11:45 | Networking TEA BREAK |
Session 2
| 11:45 – 12:05 | The Power of Multidisciplinary Collaboration – Who Owns the Patient Journey?
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| 12:10 – 12:30 |
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| 12:35 –13:05 |
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| 13:10 – 14:10 | NETWORKING LUNCH |
Session 3
| 14:10 – 14:30 | Dying with Dignity – Ethical, Legal, and Clinical Considerations End-of-life care, palliative medicine, and ethical decision-making in terminal illness management. Dr Lungi Nyathi, CEO – Alignd Q & A (5 minutes) |
| 14:35 – 15:00 | Ethical & Legal Considerations in Modern Healthcare Informed Consent in the Age of Data Privacy – Navigating POPIA & patient autonomy in digital healthcare Dr Brenda Kubheka, Managing Director & Co-founder – Health IQ Consulting Q & A (5 minutes) |
| 15h05 – 15:40 | The evolution of the consultation process: past and present Staying current: advances in diagnostics and treatment regimens Clinical condition management in contemporary practice Professor Graham Hukins, Associate Professor in Innovation and Research at North-West University Q & A (10 minutes) |
| 15:55 | Session Closure Event kindly sponsored by Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) Event Partners: Northwest University Enterprises Health Professions Council (HPCSA) Case Manager Association of South Africa |
Day 2
Sunday 11 May 2025 | Governance Workshop: 09:00 – 15:30
Programme Director: Dr Pontsho Mokoena, BHF Board Member & Principal Officer: Barmed
Workshop theme: Strengthening Governance for Sustainable UHC: Empowering Boards to Deliver
Value, Drive Strategy, and Protect Members’ Interests
Workshop Summary As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, trustees and healthcare leaders must navigate the complexities of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and National Health Insurance (NHI) while ensuring the sustainability and good governance of medical schemes. This workshop will provide critical insights into governance best practices, compliance challenges, strategic leadership, and member-centric decision-making to equip trustees and healthcare funders with the tools needed for effective oversight.
Who should attend:
– All health funders
– Principal officers and boards of trustees
– CEOs
– Fund managers
– Healthcare professionals.
Session 1
| 09:00 – 09:10 | Programme overview Neo Khauoe, BHF Chairperson & Principal Officer – Polmed |
| 09:10 – 09:40 | Understanding the Role of Trustees in a Changing Healthcare Landscape – Putting Members First – Context of medical schemes amid NHI, affordability challenges, and regulatory shifts. Dr Katlego Mothudi, Managing Director – BHF |
| 09:40 – 10:00 | The Draft King V Code – Its Potential Impact on Governance and Strategic Change in Medical Schemes – The King V Code on Corporate Governance, currently in its draft stage and open for public comment, represents a new evolution in governance best practices. (speaker to be confirmed) |
| 10:00 – 10:20 | Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) – Are Medical Schemes Truly Putting Members First? Wendy Knowler, Consumer Journalist |
| 10:40 – 11:10 | Networking TEA BREAK |
Session 2
| 11:10 – 12:00 | Beyond the SLA: Designing Value-Based Contracts for Administrators and Managed Care Partners Dr Vuyo Gqola, COO – GEMS & Professor Graham Hukins, Health Systems Strategist & Associate Professor in Innovation and Research at North-West University Q & A (10 Minutes) |
| 12:10 – 13:10 | NETWORKING LUNCH |
| Session 3 13:10 – 13:30 |
Case Study: key lessons from the collapse of a medical scheme Phindile Mabaso, Associate – KHR Inc Q & A (5 Minutes) |
| 13:35 – 14:05 | Governance Solutions for your scheme Michelle Beneke, Director – Michelle Beneke Attorneys Inc. |
| 14:10 – 14:40 | Regulatory Overreach vs Regulatory Oversight Advocate Craig Burton-Durham, CEO: Durham & Associates Q & A (5 Minutes) |
Session 4
| 14:40 – 15:30 | Interactive workshop: Trustees’ Role in Leading Sustainable Healthcare: Strengthening Oversight, Driving Value, and Navigating Change Moderated by: Dr Pontsho Mokoena – Programme Director |
Workshop overview
This interactive session is designed to empower trustees to lead with confidence, agility, and accountability in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. Instead of formal presentations, expect open dialogue, peer learning, and real-time problem-solving.
Key focus areas:
• Strengthening Board Oversight: Practical strategies to enhance governance, fiduciary responsibility, and ethical leadership.
• Balancing Financial Sustainability and Member Value: Tools to align benefit design, cost management, and member impact.
• Navigating Regulatory Change: Preparing boards for NHI, affordability pressures, and evolving reforms while maintaining agility.
Panellists:
- Dr Vuyo Gqola, COO – GEMS
- Dr Katlego Mothudi, Managing Director – BHF
- Prof Graham Hukins, Health Systems Strategist & Associate Professor in Innovation and Research at North-West University
- Phindile Mabaso, Associate – KHR Inc
- Michelle Beneke, Director – Michelle Beneke Attorneys Inc.
- Advocate Craig Burton-Durham, CEO – Durham & Associates
| 15:20 | Session CLOSURE |
17h30-20h00 Sunday 11 May 2025 | Opening Ceremony
Venue: CTICC 2 HALL 5 AND 6
Programme Director: Nokuzola Mtshiya, Head: Stakeholder Relations and Business Development – BHF
Session theme: – Unlocking Transformational Impact Through Partnerships
| 17:50 -18:10 | Opening Address: by the BHF Chairperson: Neo Khauoe, BHF Chairperson & Principal Officer – Polmed |
| 18:15 -18:45 | Guest speaker: The Grand Experiment: Lessons from the GNU for healthcare – Dr Pali Lehohla, Board Member: Institute for Economic Justice and Former statistician General |
| 18:55 – 19:20 | Keynote address: Uniting parallels – Bridging Divides to Transform Healthcare Professor Bonang Mohale, Chancellor of the University of the Free State and member of the World Economic Forum’s Community of Chairpersons |
| The opening ceremony is kindly sponsored by AstraZeneca’s Phakamisa NCD program
AV kindly powered by Universal Healthcare (Pty) Ltd |
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| 20:00 – 22:30 | NETWORKING COCKTAIL FUNCTION CTICC 2 Hall 9 and 10 |
| The cocktail function is kindly sponsored by AstraZeneca’s Phakamisa NCD program |
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Day 3
08:00 Monday 12 May 2025 | Plenary Session
Venue: CTICC 2 HALL 5 AND 6
Programme Director: Gugulethu Mfuphi, Broadcaster and Conference Chair. Host of KayaBizz, Kaya FM-95.9
Session 1:
Session theme: Healthcare Partnerships: Game-Changer or a fad
Session overview: In today’s evolving healthcare landscape, partnerships are often hailed as the solution to persistent system failures, but are they delivering real change, or simply recycling outdated models?
This opening plenary will assess the impact of healthcare collaborations in Africa and globally. We will explore whether current partnerships are driving sustainable transformation or falling short amid rising costs, deepening inequalities, and the global shift toward UHC. The session will also reflect on lessons from recent donor funding shifts, including the PEPFAR freeze, highlighting the urgent need for resilient, locally led solutions.
We will examine the evolving role of health insurers as they move from passive funders to active partners in reform—leveraging data, innovation, and value-based care to shape more collaborative and effective health systems rooted in African realities.
| 07:00 – 07:50 | TEA ON ARRIVAL CTICC 2 EXHIBITION HALL 9 AND 10 |
| 08:05 – 08:20 | Opening reflections: The BHF MD’s perspective on partnership, policy and progress Dr Katlego Mothudi, Managing Director – BHF |
| 08:20 – 08:50 | Guest speaker: Global partnerships for Pandemic Preparedness: Lessons from the WHO Global Agreement Precious Matsoso, Adjunct Professor at Sunway University & co-chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body for the development of a legal instrument, a Pandemic Convention – World Health Organization (WHO) |
| 08:50 – 09:20 | Global perspective: From Payers to Partners: The New Global Role of Health Insurers in System Transformation Christopher Watney – CEO iFHP (UK) |
| 09:20 – 09:50 | Health policy in SA from 1994 to now: towards convergence between public and private health financing Andrew Donaldson, Senior Research Associate Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU), University of Cape Town (UCT), Former Deputy Director-General of the National Treasury |
| 09:50-10:20 | Case Study – Strategic Partnerships: Advancing Pulmonary Care Through Partnerships – relevant treatment of airway disease in SA in 2025 Dr Petrus Jacobus Viviers, Pulmonologist |
| 10:20 -10:50 | NETWORKING TEA – BREAK CTICC 2 EXHIBITION HALL 9 AND 10 |
| Proudly sponsored by Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) | |
Session 2:
Session theme: Pathways to UHC: Comparative Lessons and Contextual solutions
Session Overview: This session will explore the diverse pathways countries are taking toward UHC, offering a layered analysis across global, regional, and national contexts. We begin with a comparative look at international health financing models, examining how countries around the world are progressing toward UHC—what’s working, what’s not, and the key lessons learned. The focus then shifts to the Southern African region, highlighting countries such as Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya that have implemented versions of NHI or social health insurance. Their experiences provide valuable insights for neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and Eswatini, which are in the process of exploring or designing their own NHI frameworks.
Finally, the session will unpack proposals currently under consideration in South Africa, examining which models may be more adaptable and sustainable in the local context. By bringing together global evidence, regional experiences, and local innovation, this session offers a rich, fit-for-purpose perspective on how countries in the region can move toward inclusive, effective, and resilient health systems.
| 10:50 – 11:20 | Global perspective: What Works and Why: Comparing UHC Models Across the Globe Jonty Roland- Associate Director, Aceso Global (USA) |
| 11:20 – 11:40 | Case Study: Carsten Schubert – Director, Sales & Operations: Transnova |
| 11:40 – 12:30 | Panel discussion: Beyond the Blueprint: Exploring Fit-for-Purpose Alternatives to NHI on the Road to UHC
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| 12:30 – 12:50 | Question & Answer session |
| 12:50 – 13:50 | NETWORKING LUNCH CTICC 2 EXHIBITION HALL 9 AND 10 Proudly sponsored by Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) |
Session 3:
Session theme: Partnerships for Employee Wellness: Building Inclusive, Productive Workplaces
Programme Director: Dr Themba Hadebe: BHF Board Member , Clinical and Managed Care Executive:
Bonitas
Session Overview: Employee health and productivity have become strategic priorities for major employer groups, funders, and institutions like the Compensation Fund. This session will explore how innovative partnerships between employers, medical schemes, healthcare providers, and public entities are reshaping workplace wellness and creating shared value. Through practical case studies and data-driven insights, we will examine how these collaborations are driving down costs, improving health outcomes, and boosting workforce morale and retention. The discussion will focus on scalable
solutions, from integrated care models to targeted benefit design, and highlight the power of multistakeholder partnerships in building healthier, more productive workforces.
| 13:50 – 15:00 | Panellists Include:
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| Session ends 15:00 – Networking tea break Proudly sponsored by Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) | |
18h00 for 19h00 until 24h00 10th Annual Titanium Awards Gala Banquet
| Join us for a dazzling evening as we celebrate 10 years of honouring trailblazers in healthcare. The Titanium Awards Gala Banquet marks a decade of impact, innovation, and industry transformation. Expect powerful moments, sparkling company, and a few surprises. Celebrating a decade of excellence | HALL 5 AND 6 |
| Dress code: “Black with a touch of Gold” | Master of Ceremonies: Dr Michael Mol SAs TV Doctor |
| The 10th Titanium Awards gala banquet is kindly sponsored by Insight Actuaries & Consultants | |
Day 4
09:00 Tuesday 13 May 2025 |– Plenary Session
Programme Director: Francina Mosoeu, BHF Board Member & Principal Officer: SAMWUMED
Session Theme: Investing in the Health Value Chain: Catalysts for Scalable and Sustainable Delivery
Session overview: Amid economic uncertainty and a shifting global funding landscape, this multi-sectoral panel will explore where investment is most urgently needed across the healthcare value chain—and how to attract it. As many countries progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through various models, leaders from healthcare, will discuss what makes a health system investable and how to unlock equity through public-private partnerships and integrated care models.
A featured case study will highlight how an integrated care model, improved health outcomes and efficiency—offering real-world insights for scaling similar models under NHI.
Key Discussion Points:
- What do investors look for in uncertain healthcare markets?
- How can medical schemes invest strategically in the context of NHI?
- How can PPPs and integrated models unlock equity and scale?
- What makes a healthcare environment investment-ready?
Panellists include:
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| 10:30 – 11:00 Networking TEA BREAK proudly sponsored by Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) |
Tuesday, 13 May 2025 | Streams 1-8
Parallel stream overview: These seven curated streams offer deep dives into priority areas shaping the future of healthcare. Designed to spark debate, share innovation, and challenge traditional thinking, each stream brings together thought leaders, implementers, and disruptors to accelerate progress toward resilient, equitable, and sustainable health systems. Most of the presenters featured in these sessions were selected through our Call for Abstracts, showcasing real-world experiences, research, and innovations submitted by professionals across the healthcare ecosystem.
| Stream 1 Venue: Watsonia & Bluebell SESSION THEME 11:00 – 12:30 |
Stream 2 Venue: Daisy/Freesia/Orchid SESSION THEME 11:00 – 12:30 |
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| Session kindly sponsored by AstraZeneca |
FACILITATOR: Dr Themba Hadebe, BHF Board Member & Clinical and Managedcare Executive – Bonitas
Topics include: Essential Health System Datasets for the Future of AI-Driven Healthcare |
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| 12:30 – 13:30 | NETWORKING LUNCH (EXHIBITION HALL 9 & 10) proudly sponsored by Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) | ||
| Stream 3 Venue: Plenary Hall 5 and 6 SESSION THEME 13:30 – 15:00 |
Stream 4
SESSION THEME |
Stream 5 Venue: Daisy/Freesia/Orchid SESSION THEME |
| FACILITATOR: Dr Nkateko Msimeki, General Manager, Health Policy and Medial Advisory Unit – Medscheme Topics include:
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FACILITATOR: Mike Wilson, BHF board member & Chairperson BP medical scheme Topics include:
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FACILITATOR: Dr Ali Hamdulay, CEO Metropolitan Health & BHF UHC committee member Topics include:
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| 15:00 – 15:30 | Networking TEA BREAK (EXHIBITION HALL 9 & 10) Proudly sponsored by Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) | ||
| Stream 6 Venue: Plenary Hall 5 and 6 SESSION THEME 15:30 -17:00 |
Stream 7 Venue: Watsonia & Bluebell SESSION THEME 15:30 -17:00 |
Stream 8 Venue: Daisy/Freesia/Orchid SESSION THEME 15:30 -17:00 |
| FACILITATOR: Vusi Makanda, Manager: Bonitas Topics include:
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FACILITATOR: Heinrich Nashenda, BHF board member & Trustee – GEM Health Medical Aid Scheme (Namibia) Topics include:
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FACILITATOR: Dr Rajesh Patel, Head – Health systems strengthening – BHF Topics include:
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| AV kindly powered by Universal Healthcare (Pty) Ltd | ||
| 17:00 session closure & evening at leisure | ||
Day 5
09:00 Wednesday 14 May 2025 | Plenary Session
Programme Director: Clement Manyathela – Television and Radio Broadcaster
Session theme: Creating an Enabling Environment for Transformational Health Partnerships
Session overview: This high-level session brings together industry leaders, healthcare strategists, and legal experts to explore how evolving policy and regulatory frameworks are shaping – and in some cases, stalling – healthcare transformation. With rising costs, regulatory uncertainty, and growing workforce shortages, the healthcare environment is increasingly drifting away from the core principles of equity and solidarity. The session will critically examine the impact of recent policy shifts, including the proposed NHI regulations, ongoing court cases, the block exemption, hybridisation of healthcare products, and the stagnation around the introduction of low-cost benefit options. Speakers will reflect on what has driven these changes, how the system can be redirected to prioritise inclusive access, and what it will take to create a regulatory environment that truly enables transformational partnerships.
| 09:05 – 09:35 | The cheese has moved: Understanding the Shifting Foundations of Healthcare Financing Christoff Raath – Joint CEO: Insight Actuaries & Consultants |
| 09:35 – 09:55 | Access Denied: The LCBO Stand-Off Helen Michael, Director Werksmans Attorneys & Siphosakhe Phakathi, Senior Associate – Werksmans Attormeys |
| 09:55 – 10:15 | The Block Exemption Dilemma: Real Reform or Regulatory Theatre?
Misha van Niekerk, Senior Associate – Adams and Adams |
| 10:05 – 10:25 | NHI in the Courts: Safeguarding the Future of Healthcare Access |
| 10:25 – 11:10 | Panellists include legal teams:
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| 11:10 – 12:25 | Question & Answer session |
| 12:30 | Closing Ceremony & Vote of thanks |
| Dr Katlego Mothudi, Managing Director – BHF | |
| AV kindly powered by Universal Healthcare (Pty) Ltd | |