22/05/2026
Day 1 at the SAMA Health Summit 2026 sparked some incredibly valuable conversations around the future of healthcare in South Africa.
What stood out wasn’t only the interest in digital health innovation, but the very real discussions around the challenges healthcare professionals are facing daily, and where technology can genuinely help move the system forward.
Across conversations with clinicians, healthcare leaders and industry stakeholders, a few themes came up repeatedly:
• The need for trusted, locally relevant clinical intelligence
• Simpler digital tools that support clinicians without adding complexity
• Better collaboration across healthcare disciplines and sectors
• Practical uses of AI that improve workflows and patient care
• Expanding access to quality healthcare in both urban and resource-constrained settings
• The importance of balancing innovation with safety, accountability and real clinical value
It was also a privilege to showcase elements of the EMGuidance platform and broader healthcare intelligence infrastructure during engagements with leaders across the healthcare ecosystem, including Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi.
The theme Innovate to Elevate definitely carried through today’s discussions. There’s a growing recognition that innovation in healthcare needs to be practical, scalable and designed around the realities of frontline care in South Africa.
If you’re attending Day 2 of the SAMA Health Summit, be sure to pop by the EMGuidance stand for insights into what’s coming next, and how EMGuidance is working to help innovate to elevate healthcare delivery in South Africa.