Dr Simon Strachan, MBChB(UCT) FCPaed(SA), is a practising paediatrician based in Bedfordview. Since 1996, he has been practising at Life Bedford Gardens Hospital, offering comprehensive paediatric care with special interests in vaccinology, pulmonology, allergy, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. 

He has published in international journals, authored a chapter of the paediatric text book Child Health for All and has been an invited speaker at both local and international conferences. He is the co-author of Feeding Sense, published by Metz Press, and now in its 2nd edition. He is an examiner for the CMSA FCPaed II, a lecturer on vaccinology at Wits and an APLS instructor.  

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr Strachan serves as the CEO of the South African Private Practitioners Forum (SAPPF), representing over 4 500 specialist private practitioners nationwide. Under his leadership, the SAPPF actively engages in healthcare policy discussions, striving to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare services in South Africa.  

He is also a steering committee member of the Universal Healthcare Access Coalition, a collective of healthcare professionals and organisations advocating for practical solutions to achieve universal health coverage in South Africa.  

Throughout his career, Dr Strachan has demonstrated a profound commitment to paediatric healthcare and health system reform, contributing to both clinical excellence and policy development to enhance healthcare delivery in South Africa. He believes that the private sector is integral to the successful achievement of universal access to healthcare for all South Africans.