MEDChronicle www.medicalchronicle.co.za
The doctor's newspaper
OCTOBER 2025
Primary care goes digital As technology continues to advance, its integration into primary care promises to not only address current challenges but pave the way for a more equitable, efficient, and patient-centred healthcare system. By Nicky Belseck, medical journalist Gettyimages: Credit KTStock
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R UNBEN PILLAY, CO-CHAIR of the Africa Telehealth Collaboration, took centre stage at the recent Health Funders Association Scenario Planning Symposium, where thought leaders gathered to envision Healthcare 2030: Building a Health System We Deserve. His presentation highlighted the transformative power of digital technologies in primary care, painting a compelling vision of how innovation can address systemic challenges, improve patient outcomes, and create a more sustainable healthcare model. The session, co-facilitated by Jeremy Yatt, CEO of Fedhealth, brought attention to pressing issues in healthcare and the critical role technology must play. Dr Pillay’s insights provided valuable guidance for practitioners, funders, and policymakers aiming to navigate this fast-evolving landscape. THE IMPERATIVE FOR TRANSFORMATION The complexity of modern healthcare means innovation
is no longer optional; it’s essential, Dr Pillay explained. With the world facing a shortage of healthcare professionals and the increasing prevalence of multi-morbidity, the limitations of traditional approaches have become evident. The unsustainable pressure placed on primary care systems necessitates the adoption of digital tools capable of improving access, efficiency, and outcomes. Dr Pillay stressed that producing more health professionals alone cannot solve the growing demand. Instead, leveraging digital technologies offers a way to address these challenges through smarter workflows, enhanced patient engagement, and costeffective solutions.
ways that we can increase access to care if we build and design it properly,” said Dr Pillay. The Covid-19 pandemic normalised the adoption of telemedicine worldwide. In primary care, telehealth platforms have enabled patients to access services remotely, which is particularly effective in managing chronic conditions, providing follow-up consultations, and enhancing accessibility in rural regions. However, barriers such as payment parity for teleconsultations, the need for regulatory frameworks, and funder buy-in remain critical in expanding telehealth's reach. “The interesting thing is that we're doing a lot of telemedicine in the private sector and maybe in the general practitioner space in the slightly uninsured space. And I think in the public sector, this is the biggest opportunity of increase in access to care. And there needs to be a bigger drive in the public sector for this to happen as well,” Dr Pillay said. 2. Empowering practices through electronic health records (EHRs) Despite its recognised advantages, EHR adoption in SA remains low, with only 20% of
DRIVING INNOVATION IN PRIMARY CARE Dr Pillay shared an array of groundbreaking tools and practices reshaping primary care, underscoring that the pandemic acted as a catalyst for much-needed change. Below are the key pillars driving this transformation: 1. Telemedicine’s revolutionary impact “Telemedicine is probably one of the easiest
general practitioners currently utilising such systems. Dr Pillay highlighted the untapped potential of EHRs in supporting value-based care by consolidating meaningful patient data and streamlining workflows. More advanced EHR systems now incorporate AI capabilities, helping practitioners analyse data in real time and delivering actionable insights for better clinical outcomes. “The challenge is that as we move into this new age of value-based care and outcomes, we actually have to have EHR to know the data,” said Dr Pillay. “We're never going to get to that value-based care and outcomes unless all practitioners know what their data sets are, what their patient bases are, and the data currently sits with the funders, but as practitioners we need that EHR to sit in the practice on dashboards that we can see at any given time. We need to move all practitioners from paper-based practices into paperless practices.” 3. Leveraging mobile health (mHealth) Africa’s widespread mobile penetration creates a unique opportunity for mHealth solutions. continued on page 4
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