Vishal Brijlal is an economist who specialises in health policy, health financing and economics, public-private partnerships and health insurance, with over 25 years of experience advising national governments across 11 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in India. He is currently a senior director at the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).  

In 2012, he was seconded as the Advisor to the Minister of Health on healthcare financing and from 2016 was the NHI coordinator. He served as the Director of Health Financing and Economics at the National Department of Health. He was the Executive for Research and Development at the Board of Healthcare Funders.  

At CHAI, Vishal has served as the Country Director for India, Regional Director for Southern Africa and Country Director for South Africa.  

During his time in India, he was instrumental in the introduction and implementation of a paediatric ART programme in partnership with the National AIDS Control Organisation. The CHAI Paediatric Programme was implemented in 18 states across India between December 2006 and January 2008. He was also instrumental in the introduction of second-line ART in India. 

He has served on various ministerial committees, including the Ministerial Appeal Committees on Pharmacy Licences; the Ministerial Task Team on District Financing; and the Ministerial Task Team on Public Private Partnerships.  

In April 2014 he was appointed to the task team investigating the restructuring of the NHLS. In November 2014, the Minister of Health appointed him to the interim management team of the National Health Laboratory Service. He coordinated the amendment to the NHLS Act as well as the National Public Health Institute of South Africa Act. 

In December 2015, he was appointed by the Minister of Health to lead Work Stream 4: The Future of Medical Schemes as part of the six NHI work streams. In May 2016, the Minister of Health appointed him NHI coordinator.