Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
24 August 2023 | 09:20am SAST
2-min read

Picture: Africa Health Exhibition

Pioneers in the medical industry will converge with distinguished representatives from government and business this October for the inaugural Africa Health Indaba, set to take place in Gauteng. The Indaba, hosted as part of the annual Africa Health Exhibition, marks the evolution of the Leaders Forum event that was previously held during the yearly assembly.

The central focus of the event revolves around the production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, establishing resilient supply chains, and promoting domestic industries. These areas underscore Africa’s commitment to spearheading medical innovation in fields where the need is most pronounced, even amid resource constraints.

Dr Bandile Hadebe, spokesperson for Africa Health, elaborated on the significance of the event. “We are striving to drive practical and pragmatic conversations aimed at propelling healthcare advancements in Africa. The congress will foster dialogues on both the advancement of healthcare and the business aspects surrounding it.”

The event will dedicate significant attention to diverse participants, including prominent hospital CEOs, group CEOs, pharmaceutical leaders, medical device distributors, and experts from healthcare academia. With attendance expected to exceed 10,000 over three days, the congress will offer a wide-ranging forum to tackle issues related to advancing healthcare practices and the business landscape.

One of the noteworthy aspects is the event’s alignment with the ongoing discussion surrounding the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) in South Africa. This topic, which has sparked debates across political, economic, and medical spheres, will be addressed through dedicated sessions at the congress. The NHI initiative is viewed as a crucial step towards achieving universal health coverage. Dr Hadebe emphasised the need for collaborative dialogue to shape a functional framework, stating, “We need to reimagine healthcare and its financing to ensure functional and sustainable universal access.”

The Africa Health Exhibition will also explore the integration of traditional medicine within the healthcare system. The event acknowledges Africa’s rich heritage of centuries-old medical traditions and seeks to prioritise indigenous knowledge. This includes discussions on how to better position, market, and regulate traditional medicine.

Innovation at the crossroads of tradition and technology will be another focus of the exhibition. Collaborations are being pursued with entities like China, which has developed an artificial intelligence platform for diagnostics using traditional medicine.

The Africa Health Exhibition, scheduled to take place from 17-19 October 2023, aims to provide a pivotal platform for healthcare stakeholders to chart a course towards more effective, inclusive, and holistic healthcare practices across the continent.

For more information and registration details, please visit https://www.africahealthexhibition.com/en/home.html.

About Africa Health
Africa Health is an annual healthcare event that brings together key players in the healthcare industry, including government representatives, business leaders, medical professionals, and academics. The event focuses on driving discussions and collaborations to advance healthcare practices, business strategies, and innovations in Africa. The event serves as a platform to address critical healthcare issues, promote universal health coverage, and harness indigenous knowledge for the betterment of healthcare systems in the region.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Junaid Kharsany here.