Africa’s largest healthcare exhibition and congress, Africa Health, is set to take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from 22 to 24 October 2024, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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This annual event, now in its 14th year, will be a major showcase of healthcare innovation and technology, aiming to set the stage for the future of collaborative healthcare across the continent. It will also highlight Cape Town’s potential to unlock growth within the healthcare sector both provincially and nationally.
In the lead-up to the congress, Western Cape Minister of Health Mireille Wrenger shared her thoughts during a joint networking event with Africa Health and WESGRO. She emphasised that Cape Town, with its unique infrastructure, position, and community, is perfectly suited for bold innovations in healthcare to thrive.
Healthcare, as a key driver of human welfare and societal prosperity, remains a top priority for the continent. The Africa Health 2024 event will bring together leading healthcare professionals from across Africa, including policymakers, service providers, manufacturers, medical experts, and influential thought leaders.
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Daniel Green, Informa Markets Exhibition Manager for Africa Health, echoed Minister Wrenger’s sentiments, stating that the congress and exhibition offer a vital platform for those working towards a sustainable and vibrant healthcare sector to collaborate and share ideas.
Historically, the Africa Health Congress has been a key forum for discussing challenges and developments across the healthcare industry, from technological innovations to policy and funding. This year’s Cape Town edition aims to continue that tradition by uniting a diverse group of professionals to address the sector’s pressing challenges.
Key insights from Minister Wrenger’s address include the following:
- Africa’s healthcare systems are severely weakened by a lack of local manufacturing capacity.
- The continent remains highly dependent on imported pharmaceuticals and medical devices, making it vulnerable to global trade disruptions and supply chain challenges.
- In South Africa, only 5% of the local healthcare sector involves device manufacturing, with over 76% of medical devices being imported.
A 2020 report from fDi Intelligence projected that the global medical device and equipment market would reach a value of USD 612.7 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.4%. Although South Africa is a regional leader in this market, its medical devices sector was valued at R21 billion in 2021, and it is expected to grow to R29.6 billion by 2025. Despite this, the country still makes up just 0.3% of the global medical device market.
Investment in health technology is seen as crucial to sustainable growth. The Western Cape Government’s Growth for Jobs (G4J) strategy recognises technology and innovation as one of the key pillars needed to drive economic growth in the region.
Minister Wrenger emphasised the importance of scaling up current projects and pushing the limits of innovative care to build resilient and comprehensive health systems in the Western Cape, South Africa, and across the continent. ‘The bold health innovations here on our own soil demonstrate the tangible power of technology to deliver real benefits to real people and will allow us to build a healthier population and promote safer communities,’ she said.
Daniel Green added that the medical devices industry holds great potential for growth, and tapping into local opportunities within the Western Cape and South Africa could have a profound impact on both the economy and healthcare sustainability.
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