1. Tell us about your role, the organisation, its mission, and the journey to date. *
My role is Head of Healthcare Sector at Standard Bank South Africa. We pride ourselves in having the largest market share of practitioners banking with us. Our mission is primary health care and how we can assist in ensuring all practitioners are able to service all in country.
2. Highlight your areas of expertise and the solutions targeted towards the development of healthcare in the African continent. *
My focus extends beyond banking to prioritise the advancement of Primary Health Care (PHC) in line with South Africa’s national goals, supporting sustainable health infrastructure. The country is adopting innovative approaches, such as AI and Telehealth, which allow practitioners to provide care virtually without traditional facilities. These technological advances enable specialists to treat patients remotely, improving healthcare delivery. For Africa to enhance its healthcare system, expanding innovative online practices and AI capabilities is essential. Ensuring universal access to primary healthcare should precede improvements in clinic and hospital services.
3. Please tell us about some your notable investments and partnerships, as well as your plans for the year ahead. *
One of our significant initiatives has been supporting young practitioners as they transition from public to private healthcare. Through collaboration with our Enterprise Development sector, we launched an Empowerment Package, which provides complimentary Practice Management, Financial Management, and Banking Solutions for the first six months. This offering is designed to help practitioners establish themselves both financially and professionally in their new practices. For specialists entering the market, we have secured facilities of up to R1 million to assist them in starting their practices. Our partnerships with practice management and financial management companies have been instrumental in enabling these opportunities. Plans for the year ahead is to find technology solutions to support primary healthcare delivery in rural areas and eliminate the need for cash transactions.
4. What will you be showcasing at WHX Cape Town? What opportunities are you looking forward to? *
We will be showcasing our various banking value propositions tailored to different practitioner specialities. In addition, we will highlight our current collaboration partners and the advantages they bring to the healthcare sector. Our objective is to identify new partners with whom we can collaboratively build a successful healthcare model for South Africa and Africa.
