Learn More About this Programme
This Webinar is part of a 7-Module series. You can find out more about this programme here
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About this Activity
What You Will Learn
In this one-hour discussion, Dr Harriet Etheridge and host Linda Ravenhill will explore a number of theme's including:
1. Ethics of Innovation in Medicine
-Promise vs. reality of new technologies (e.g. IR, AI-assisted diagnostics, robotics, genomics)
-Safety and efficacy: introducing technology where local data may be limited
-Local innovation — building African-led solutions versus inbound technology
2. Equity, Access, and the Cost of Technology
-Public sector: constrained budgets, prioritisation dilemmas (specialised tech vs. essential medicines)
-Private sector: fragmented access, high out-of-pocket costs, reliance on medical aids
-Donor-driven models: questions of sustainability once funding ends
3. Payment models in practice
-Markup and transparency issues — patients often unaware of what they are actually paying for
-Medical aid coverage gaps — when funders don’t yet recognise new procedures
-Pay-to-play innovation: Do only those with wealth or insurance benefit from the newest innovations?
4. The Ethics of Financial Risk
-Is it fair for patients to carry the financial risk of innovation?
-How can we protect vulnerable patients from financial exploitation when it comes to new technologies
-Informed financial consent: patients should understand not only clinical risks but also cost risks before agreeing to new technologies
About Your Presenter
Dr Harriet Etheredge (PhD) is the Ethics Lead at Genomics UK. She holds an MSc in Bioethics and Health Law and a PhD in Health Communication from the University of the Witwatersrand and is an affiliate of the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics, University of the Witwatersrand.
She served as Ethics and Regulatory Manager at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (2015–2022) and contributed to teaching at the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics from 2021. In 2022, she was seconded part-time to the AgenDA Research Consortium as Head of Ethics and Regulatory Compliance. Since November 2022, she has served as Ethics Lead at Genomics England, overseeing the ethical aspects of genomics research and policy.
Dr Etheredge co-chaired the Wits Human Research Ethics Committee (Medical) and is a widely published academic and ethic speaker.
About Your Host
Linda Ravenhill is the Founder and Editor of the Medical Education Network. With over three decades of healthcare experience, she earned an MA in Journalism from the University of the Witwatersrand, where her research focused on medical narratives surrounding end-of-life care in the elderly.
She worked in clinical publishing with the South African Medical Association before founding her technology and digital publishing company in 1999. Her work has been widely recognised for its innovation and impact at the intersection of digital healthcare and medical communication. She was a finalist in the 2011 Cartier Women’s Initiative, served as a Ford Global Ambassador, and was a social entrepreneurial candidate for the Wavelength Foundation. In 2016, she was recognised at the Reuters EyeforPharma awards for her contribution to healthcare, specifically for creating the South African Rare Diseases education platform.
About Your CPD Accreditation
This activity review is accredited for 1 Level 1 Ethics point on completion of at least 90% of this webinar.
HPCSA-registered healthcare professionals
On completion of both activities, HPCSA-registered healthcare professionals will receive 1 Level 1 Ethics CPD point.
The Medical Education Network will submit a record of your completed activities to the HPCSA at the end of each month. You will receive a notification email from us informing you that this has been done.
Non-HPCSA-registered healthcare professionals.
If you are a non-HPCSA-registered healthcare professional, this activity may contribute to your accreditation requirements. Please keep a record of your certificate obtained on passing this questionnaire for submission to your respective Registration Council. For more details on the number of points you will be awarded, please contact your Council directly.
About the Medical Education Network
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