Annual BHF conference to focus on strengthening healthcare ecosystem

The redirection of resources to fight the Covid- 19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems globally and across Africa, forcing stakeholders to adapt at an accelerated speed. It has also put the healthcare system under the microscope, magnifying the existing gaps, particularly in Africa. Against this backdrop, healthcare industry experts will be converging at the 21st Annual Board of Healthcare Funders ( BHF) Conference, where they will look at transformational strategies to disrupt the status quo with innovative approaches to strengthen the healthcare system. The Board of Healthcare Funders is the representative body of medical aid schemes, representing medical scheme members across South Africa, Botswana Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Malawi and Swaziland

Under the theme Leading Change in Strengthening our Healthcare Ecosystem, this year’s conference comes at an opportune time, when the world needs solutions to address the current challenges worsened by the pandemic. The conference will be held from 18 - 21 May 2022 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre ( CTICC), South Africa.

The aim of the conference is to foster collaborative industry participation in efforts to build stronger health systems, promote sustained commitment, crosslearning, leadership, transparency, good governance and agility.

“Covid- 19 has brought a lot of trauma to an already challenged healthcare system, particularly in Africa. One of the biggest lessons for us was that we must adapt and accelerate efforts to address our healthcare challenges and align across sectors to lead change in promoting access to quality care for the health citizen,” says Dr Katlego Mothudi, managing director of the BHF.

According to Mothudi, the conference will as a consequence zoom into current healthcare status and challenges and call on the sector to provide leadership and an active response to these.

“Prioritising the strengthening of the ecosystem in tandem with the necessary transformational healthcare reform debates will be key,” he added.