The rapid advancement of technology has ushered in a new era of digitized healthcare systems, reshaping how nations deliver medical services. This transformation is not merely a matter of convenience but a necessity, as global health crises have highlighted the urgent need for innovation and resilience in healthcare infrastructure.
Pandemics such as COVID-19 and the recent Ebola outbreak have accelerated this shift, forcing governments and institutions to embrace digital solutions for patient care, data management, and disease surveillance. Against this backdrop, the question arises: is South Africa moving in the right direction, and are our healthcare professionals, both current and future, adequately prepared to navigate this digital transformation?
“South Africa has made good progress, but I wouldn’t say we’re fully prepared yet. We have the right vision and policies in place, but implementation is where the real work still lies. Digital healthcare isn’t just about introducing new technology – it’s about making sure healthcare professionals know how to use it, patients can access it, and the infrastructure supports it,” says Mehnaaz Olla, School Manager of the MANCOSA School of Healthcare.
Progress and Challenges
Despite regular reports about the pressures facing the South African healthcare system, as well as concerns about policy development and implementation, South Africa has made some progress over the past five years. The World Health Organization reminds us that digital health should strengthen health systems, not simply digitise existing processes. That’s the opportunity South Africa has over the next few years
“The COVID – 19 pandemic was probably the biggest catalyst. Almost overnight, healthcare providers had to embrace virtual consultations, electronic communication and digital ways of working. What’s encouraging is that those changes didn’t disappear after COVID-19. We’ve also seen continued investment through the National Digital Health Strategy, which gives us a roadmap. The challenge now is making sure those plans translate into consistent implementation across the country. The progress is real. The pace, so far, has not matched the ambition,” says Olla.
However, this optimism needs to be tempered. “If I had to narrow South Africa’s challenges down to one issue, I’d say digital poverty. It’s difficult to talk about the move towards digital healthcare when not everyone has the same access to reliable internet, a stable electricity supply, digital devices or even the skills to use them confidently. The International Telecommunication Union estimates that around 68% of the world’s population uses the internet and in Africa, only 38%. This means that the majority of our population still does not use the internet. Those are the kinds of gaps we must close if digital healthcare is going to be truly inclusive,” says Olla.
The Tertiary Education Role Player
The move toward digitized healthcare requires a specific set of skills. While many students enter higher education with varying levels of digital familiarity, their knowledge, skills, and confidence differ considerably. As a result, tertiary institutions play a critical role in equipping future healthcare professionals with the digital health competencies needed to use emerging technologies safely, effectively, and ethically in practice.
“We need to stop treating digital health as an optional extra. Tomorrow’s healthcare graduates will be expected to work with electronic health records, telehealth platforms and digital clinical systems from their first day at work. Those skills should be embedded into healthcare programmes and not offered as an afterthought. Technology will keep changing, so higher education institutions also need to create graduates who know how to keep learning,” says Olla.
From an employability perspective, Olla points out that employers are looking for graduates who are clinically competent and digitally confident. That means understanding electronic health records, being comfortable with telehealth, knowing how to interpret health data, protecting patient information and increasingly understanding how technologies like artificial intelligence can support clinical practice. “Digital competence is becoming just as important as clinical competence,” stresses Olla.
MANCOSA recognises that healthcare is changing, and education has to change with it. “We’ve already introduced learning opportunities like our Digitalising Administration in Healthcare short learning programme, and we’re continuing to expand offerings that sit at the intersection of healthcare and technology. The goal is simple: prepare graduates for the healthcare system they’re actually going to enter – not the one that existed ten years ago,” says Olla.
Lifelong Learning Becomes an Important Role Player
Healthcare has always evolved, but technology is accelerating that pace of change. The professionals who thrive will be the ones who continue learning throughout their careers. Technology should enhance clinical care – not replace the human connection that sits at the heart of healthcare.
Adaptation will therefore be an important success indicator for the South African healthcare sector. “It important to note that success isn’t measured by how much technology we’ve introduced – it’s measured by whether patients receive better care because of it. If digital healthcare helps reduce waiting times, improves access in underserved rural areas, supports healthcare professionals and ultimately delivers better health outcomes, then we’ve succeeded.
To accommodate this, healthcare education needs to adopt a future-ready approach.”Healthcare professionals don’t need to become software developers, but they do need to understand the technologies they’re working with – from AI-assisted decision support to digital patient records and health data. The graduates entering the workforce in five years’ time will need a very different skill set from those who graduated five years ago,” concludes Olla.
Building a Future-Ready Healthcare Workforce
South Africa’s journey toward digitized healthcare is marked by both promise and pressing challenges. The momentum gained during the COVID-19 pandemic and reinforced by the National Digital Health Strategy has laid a strong foundation, but the path ahead requires consistent implementation, equitable access, and a commitment to closing the digital divide.
Ultimately, success will depend on whether technology translates into better patient outcomes, reduced waiting times, and improved access for underserved communities. Preparing healthcare professionals to be both clinically competent and digitally confident is no longer optional, it is essential. By embedding digital skills into education and fostering lifelong learning, South Africa can ensure its healthcare system evolves to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.
