Introduction
The South African Association for Bioethics and Health Law (“SAABHL”) was created in 2024, with the primary purpose of bidding for and ultimately hosting the 2028 World Congress for Medical Law, under the auspices of the World Association for Medical Law (“WAML”). The SAABHL also seeks to build up various academic specializations pertaining to Bioethics, Health Law and ancillary subject matter, across multiple disciplines.
The SAABHL is the juristic entity that will take responsibility for the planning of the Congress, enter into relevant contracts with service providers (and the WAML, to the extent required), and be accountable to stake holders, including but not limited to the WAML.
The Executive Committee of the SAABHL are (see the “Executive Committee” tab) will also constitute the Local Organizing Committee of the Congress.
The SAABHL is domiciled at Werksmans Attorneys, the firm at which Neil Kirby practices.
What We Do
The South African Association for Bioethics and Health Law or SAABHL was founded during 2024 in order to bring together lawyers, healthcare providers, bioethicists and academics into a single forum in order to discuss the fast-paced developments in and the future of South African health law, with a focus on the regulatory environment in which the public and private health sectors operate and have operated historically. The vast majority of those dealing with healthcare-related regulations and legislation in South Africa have done so and are doing so in isolation. The SAABHL presents a unique and pioneering opportunity to bring those constituencies and expertise together in one forum to foster learning and share thoughts, ideas and approaches.
The establishment of SAABHL is an exciting chapter in the development of healthcare law, from a regulatory perspective in South Africa – a first of its kind and a unique opportunity for persons dealing with any manner of legislation, regulation or ethical rules to trade in and expand expertise in the field of South African health law and to join and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our colleagues in the field of healthcare law internationally.
Gallery
The first SAABHL Master Class, held in conjunction with the Mandela Institute at the University of Witwatersrand’s School of Law, entitled “Navigating Medical Schemes”, was held on 13 March 2025 at the offices of Discovery Health. The session was facilitated by Prof. Jonathan Klaaren from the University, and yielded exceptionally positive feedback from attendees.
Neil Kirby presented first on medical scheme governance and salient aspects of the Medical Schemes Act
Next, Howard Snoyman presented on open vs restricted enrolment, community vs risk rating, the rationale underpinning various types of waiting periods and late joiner penalties. David Geral concluded by presenting on the various forms of dispute resolution mechanisms contemplated in the Medical Schemes Act