Innovation Driving Healthcare Delivery

COVID-19 has irrevocably revealed fundamental truths, illustrating just how vulnerable healthcare systems are, with era-defining strains on capacity and delivery. Systems cannot keep up with the demand, stretching operational limits, creating shortages of nearly everything: masks, gloves, ventilators, ICU beds. Etc. 

BHF COVID-19 Discussion Series explores key issues pertinent for the 8 participating countries (South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi and eSwatini) and their members. The session on the 4th of August forms part of a six-series of virtual dialogue, that seeks to connect the healthcare industry to enable engagement and facilitate collaboration on issues impacting the healthcare ecosystem.

The session was facilitated by Ms Precious Matsoso; Co-Chair, Technical Group World Health Organisation & Former DG of Health South Africa, who encouraged panel members to unpack the hurdles that slow down innovation and solutions that are currently disrupting healthcare delivery. 

Key areas of focus included: Homebased Care, Telehealth, Diagnostics, Data and the Regulatory Environment (issues driving healthcare delivery to meet the needs of the ‘health citizen).  Further discussions also focused on: 1. Reflection on the digital health ecosystem: putting ‘the health citizen’ first; 2. What are the challenges & opportunities?; 3. How will innovation impact the shortage of health workers?; 4. How do we manage data in future?; and 5. How will the ‘health citizen’ respond to the protection of information? 

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BHF broader context is: With the coronavirus outbreak, healthcare systems are facing an unprecedented global crisis, with infection rates increasing meteorically, with no end date in sight. The pandemic has grown from local to global in a few months and this has accelerated opportunities for multisectoral collaboration and clinician teamwork, as many health systems lack the experience in handling global pandemics. It is clear; we are all in this together!

BHF is a representative body of the healthcare funding industry and was established in 1999. Its remit is as follows: Our guiding motto is ‘Serving medical scheme members’. Our Vision: a member centric healthcare system that is affordable and accessible to the health citizen. The BHF aims to ensure the sustainability of the healthcare sector by enabling medical schemes, administrators and managed care organisations to provide accessible, affordable, quality healthcare to their members. The BHF has a footprint throughout southern Africa, with a presence in South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi and eSwatini. As a member centric organisation, we endeavour to represent and advance the common interests of our members through the lobbying and advocacy of policy positions on their behalf.