Primary Healthcare in the spotlight at the Engage Forum

‘Primary Healthcare as an essential foundation for NHI’ is the topic under discussion at the bi-annual Engage Forum, to be held at The Venue in Melrose Arch on 31 May 2012.

Hosted by Metropolitan Health, the Engage Forum brings together experts from the public, private and academic sectors to take an in-depth look at the issues surrounding the run-up to NHI.

“We are pleased to once again provide a platform for the industry to share experiences and seek solutions to the state of healthcare in South Africa,’ says Craig Comrie, Head of Marketing at Metropolitan Health. “Collaboration is essential. We need to make sure that we engage with the best minds in the business in order to develop solutions that are sustainable and implementable.”

The line-up of speakers includes:

· Prof Morgan Chetty, COO of KwaZulu-Natal Managed Care Coalition Limited, who will discuss the role of GPs and networks, and how it contributes to making primary care accessible, affordable and sustainable;

· Sham Moodley, Chairperson of the Independent Community Pharmacist Association, who will discuss the role of pharmacies and pharmacists in a primary health care setting;

· Dr Yogan Pillay, Deputy Director General: HIV/ AIDS, TB and MCWH of the National Department of Health, who will touch on health outcomes in the public sector;

· Dr Anban Pillay, Cluster Manager: Financial Planning and Health Economics of the National Department of Health, who will discuss medicine pricing in the primary health care setting; and

• Fiorenza Monticelli, Technical Specialist Advisor – National Health Facilities Audit at the Health Systems Trust, who will be discussing the District Health Barometer (DHB).

The panel discussion will be facilitated by renowned investigative journalist, Bongani Bingwa.

Attendance is free. Seats are limited. RSVP to Maureen Letlaka at (021) 480-5522 or e-mail mletlaka@mhg.co.za.