South Africa’s ambition to achieve universal health coverage is both urgent and noble. It reflects a commitment to the constitutional right to access healthcare and a shared belief that no South African should be denied care because of circumstances or income. Yet, as the country grapples with the practicalities of reform, it is clear that success will depend not only on policy but on partnership.

The private healthcare sector, which serves millions of South Africans annually, is an indispensable part of the national health system. Its infrastructure, expertise and investment capacity offer a powerful complement to public services. If harnessed effectively, this capacity can help accelerate the journey toward equitable, high-quality care for all.

Universal health coverage is not a switch to be flipped; it is a system to be built. That system must be inclusive, resilient, and responsive to patients’ needs. It must also be commercially viable, ensuring that providers across the spectrum can continue to deliver care sustainably. The private sector has long demonstrated its ability to innovate, invest and adapt. These strengths should be seen not as competitive, but as additive and collaborative.

South Africa’s healthcare challenges are well known: shortages of skilled professionals, uneven access to services, ageing infrastructure and rising costs. These issues affect both public and private providers. Addressing them will require coordinated action, not isolated efforts. Workforce development, for example, is a national priority. Training, retaining and supporting healthcare professionals must be a shared endeavour, with both sectors contributing to solutions.

Technology presents another opportunity for progress. From digital health records to AI-assisted diagnostics, innovation can improve efficiency, reduce errors and expand access. The private sector is already investing heavily in these tools. By sharing insights and aligning our objectives, we can ensure that technological advances benefit the entire population, not just those with private cover.

Importantly, healthcare reform must be guided by evidence and grounded in the lived realities of service delivery. That means listening to those who work in clinics, hospitals and communities. It means designing systems that address operational constraints and patient needs. And it means ensuring that reforms are phased, practical and focused on outcomes.

Economic sustainability is also key. Healthcare is also an effective driver of economic growth. Hospitals and clinics are major employers, contributors to local economies and anchors of community wellbeing. A strong health system supports productivity, attracts investment and enhances national resilience. The private sector’s role in this ecosystem is significant and should be recognised as such.

The current discourse around health reform, particularly the National Health Insurance (NHI), has at times been polarising. Yet the goal is shared: accessible, quality healthcare for every South African. Achieving that goal requires trust, transparency and a willingness to collaborate. It requires all stakeholders – government, providers, professionals, and civil society – to engage constructively and focus on practical solutions that benefit the ordinary healthcare user.

The private healthcare sector is ready to play its part. Not by dictating terms, but by putting its best foot forward, offering expertise, capacity and a commitment to equitable care. The sector understands that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. It also understands that commercial viability and social justice are not opposing forces; they are interdependent.

South Africa has the talent, infrastructure and will to build a health system that serves everyone. But we must act with urgency and unity. Universal health coverage is within reach and the private sector stands ready to help make it a reality.

It is our hope that we can move forward together, with patients at the heart of every decision and with a shared commitment to the health and dignity of all South Africans.

Dr Dumisani Bomela is CEO of the Hospital Association of South Africa