19/06/2025
Today, AfroCentric Group (a Sanlam Group company), was proudly represented at the Sanlam Benchmark Symposium, a flagship research-based annual event where industry leaders share insights on the issues and trends shaping the future of our employee benefits and healthcare industries. Speaking from a healthcare perspective under the event’s theme, “Ageing in the Age of Confidence,” were Chief Analytics and Strategy Officer Satish Antony and Dr. Nkateko Msimeki, General Manager: Health Policy and Medical Advisory.
Satish opened the discussion by painting a clear picture of South Africa’s evolving demographic landscape. While we are living longer, we are not necessarily aging into illness rather, many are already living with chronic conditions as they age. He pointed out a striking contrast - the average medical scheme principal member is 34 years old, yet 10% of beneficiaries are 65 and older and this proportion is increasing. With projections showing that 1 in 6 individuals will be over 60 by 2050 and the country already grappling with a quintuple burden of disease (HIV & TB, trauma, maternal and child health issues and non-communicable diseases), a shift in approach is critical.
Satish outlined the need to transition from funding illness to funding prevention, advocating for coordinated, value-based care and an end to fragmented healthcare systems.
Building on this, Dr. Nkateko Msimeki highlighted the transformative opportunities within this new paradigm. She emphasised the importance of primary healthcare as a vehicle for a "whole-of-society" approach, one that factors in social determinants of health. This includes harnessing data more effectively, incentivising healthy behaviours, eliminating duplicated costs and integrating technology to drive efficiency and equity.
In the context of value-based care, Dr. Msimeki urged the sector to go beyond unit costs and instead consider the total cost of care, from prevention through to treatment and long-term outcomes.
Together, their insights call for a bold reimagining of healthcare for an ageing South African population.
"We can't make a population younger, but we can certainly make it healthier."