In South Africa’s complex and evolving healthcare landscape, leadership matters. As the nation celebrates Women’s Month, the Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA) is proud to recognise the women on its Board who are shaping the future of private healthcare. These leaders are building strong partnerships, driving innovation, and advancing universal health coverage for all South Africans. HASA members are long-term investors in South Africa’s healthcare system. As a national asset, the private hospital sector plays a vital role in delivering world-class care, creating jobs, and strengthening the broader economy. The women leaders on HASA’s Board embody these commitments through their vision, expertise, and dedication to quality healthcare. They are also proof of HASA’s purpose to deliberately nurture and encourage leadership for the future.
Prathna Sookoo – Governance and Sustainability Advocate
As Head of Insurance and Medical Law at Life Healthcare Group and Chair of HASA’s Legal Sub-Committee, Prathna Sookoo brings a wealth of legal, governance, and risk expertise to the healthcare sector. Her career journey from practising law to managing specialist insurance claims and now guiding strategic risk management in healthcare underscores the importance of sound governance in building sustainable and high-quality health systems.
Through her work, Prathna supports HASA’s vision of a resilient private hospital sector that is an indispensable cornerstone of South African healthcare and a trusted partner in national health reform.
Dr Biancha Mentoor – Bridging Policy, Innovation, and Access
With qualifications with distinction in medicine and public health, including a specialisation in health economics, Dr Biancha Mentoor serves as Netcare’s Manager for Health Policy and is a Board member of National Renal Care. Her experience spans clinical practice, health technology investments on the African continent, healthcare improvement in the private sector, and initiatives to expand access for uninsured populations. Her role at Netcare covers health policy and also involves working on strategic initiatives across the Netcare group’s numerous divisions.
Biancha actively contributes to South Africa’s health policy trajectory at various organisational and industry levels, including as a member of B4SA’s Phase 1 NHI Steering . She was recognised as a Mail and Guardian 200 Young South African in 2024. Her work reflects HASA’s commitment to using world-class technology and innovation to strengthen the health system in partnership with other healthcare role-players.
Amrita Raniga – Strategist in Health Economics and Negotiations
Strategist in Health Economics and Funder Relations with 17 years in private healthcare, driving dual strategic portfolios at Life Healthcare. Amrita Raniga brings a distinctive blend of biomedicine, health economics, and strategic risk management expertise to shape national policy and funder strategy. Her career spans key roles at Discovery Health and Life Healthcare, where she now leads engagements on South Africa’s evolving healthcare landscape. As Chair of HASA’s Policy and Research Sub-Committee and industry representative on BUSA’s Health Policy Committee, she plays a catalytic role in advancing healthcare reform, sustainable financing, and equitable access. Amrita’s academic foundation includes a BSc in Biomedicine, an International Master’s in Health Economics and Pharmacoeconomics, she is currently pursuing a BCom in Law. Her commitment to sustainable healthcare financing and strategic collaboration reflects a deep alignment with HASA’s vision of achieving equity in healthcare through universal health coverage ensuring that every South African has access to high-quality care.
A Shared Vision for South Africa’s Health
While their fields of expertise vary from law to policy and economics, these leaders share a common goal: to strengthen South Africa’s healthcare system through excellence, innovation, and collaboration. Their work reflects HASA’s belief that leadership matters and that by investing in future leaders, the private hospital sector can strengthen the health of the nation today and into the future. As South Africa looks to build a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system, the leadership of women like Prathna Sookoo, Dr Biancha Mentoor, and Amrita Raniga shows the power of expertise, resilience, and vision in driving meaningful change.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA) represents more than 75 percent of private hospital beds in the country. Its membership spans acute hospitals, day clinics, and specialised facilities such as rehabilitation centres. HASA’s members include listed companies, large privately held healthcare groups, smaller independent networks, and single-site facilities, reflecting the breadth and diversity of the private healthcare sector.
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