The relevance of this conference theme to the present time is underpinned by the current debate surrounding the role of private healthcare in present and future healthcare systems. Some of the topics that will be covered in the programme are:

• International health care trends – lessons to be learnt
• Health care inflation: what are the drivers?
• Some of the areas that will be focused on:
• Pharmaceuticals
• Health technology and medical devices
• Specialised care
• Hospitalisation
• Health funding mechanisms to address health systems challenges – social solidarity and risk pooling
• Universal access in SA – future trajectory