What we do

SAMED Policies and Position Papers

SAMED’s positions and policies are informed by research, expert opinion and knowledge of the medical technology sector. We adopt the voice of our members through our member-led committees to formulate a stance that is representative of the industry.

Data with Integrity: Uniting to tap the power of information

Data with Integrity, a programme driven by the South African Medical Technology Industry Association (SAMED), will build an increasingly detailed and reliable picture of the medtech sector in South Africa.

MedTech Regulations

The global medtech market is tightly regulated to ensure the safety, performance and quality of medical technology. SAMED stays abreast of breaking developments from around the world on issues of medtech regulation and communicates these to members through diverse channels including monthly engagement forums and newsletters. We also advocate for the strengthening of regulatory structures, and for their applicability and effectiveness given the interests of patients and our members.

Market Access

Market access describes mechanisms allowing for the procurement of products, services and solutions by healthcare providers and healthcare systems. The degree of technical knowledge and effectiveness of systems determines the efficiency of access to supplier and procurement networks. Access to markets in both the private and public sectors is crucial for the advancement of the medtech industry in South Africa. SAMED, through the work of our Market Access Committee, focuses on effecting positive change in procurement systems in both the private and public sectors.

Medical Device Code

The Medical Device Code of Ethical Marketing and Business Practice protects the reputation of the medtech industry and encourages trust, responsibility and a patient-centric industry focus. The fundamental purpose of the Code is to promote and encourage ethical principles and practices in our members’ marketing and business interactions with customers. The Code is binding on all SAMED members and is a condition for new and ongoing membership.

Transformation

Meaningful transformation is not a nice-to-have or an exercise in compliance. It is an economic imperative and a vital contributor to South Africa’s socio-economic progress. We are committed to meaningful transformation, believe in its value and importance and drive sustainable change as an industry body.

National Health Insurance (NHI)

National Health Insurance (NHI) is a health financing system that is designed to pool funds to provide access to quality affordable personal health services for all South Africans based on their health needs, irrespective of their socio-economic status. SAMED supports universal health coverage and the provision of quality healthcare for all. It is our aim to ensure that universal healthcare takes account of the value of medical technology, sustains the industry and opens further opportunity within the field as a strategic pillar of South Africa’s social and economic advancement.

Localisation, manufacture and SMMEs

SAMED is proud to have members who are local innovators and who manufacture proudly South African medical technologies which are traded both locally and internationally. Most of SAMED’s members are small, medium and micro-enterprises and we champion their unique challenges and requirements. SAMED carefully considers the impact of legislation, regulations, processes and policies and how they affect these medtech sub-sects. The unique aspects of SMMEs and local manufacturers are included when commenting on behalf of the industry, engaging key stakeholders, discussing sector challenges, and building initiatives.

Company Representative in a Clinical Environment (CRICE)

Company Representatives in the Clinical Environment (CRICE) is an online course and certification for equipping company reps with the knowledge and skills they need to protect the rights and safety of patients. It is a sterling example of cross-sectoral collaboration with hospitals, practitioners and the medical technology industry.

Government Payment Time Frames

We urge all our members to submit figures to the government payment time frames online portal in order for us to ascertain the extent of delayed payments and to present a unified industry response in an attempt to resolve the issue.

Between the first and seventh day of each month, our members are asked to submit data on payments owed to them by the provincial health departments, NHLS and military health services. We use this data to liaise with the public sector to improve payment time frames.

All submissions are aggregated and kept strictly confidential and used only to demonstrate the combined extent of delayed payment in our engagements with government.