Private Sector Forum

The private sector has made significant advances in response programmes for HIV, TB and STIs in the workplace, however, these epidemics still pose an economic threat to the sector, contributing to the high rates of absenteeism and poor productivity. Apart from the workforce already in the system, the private sector faces a serious threat due to the following challenges:

• 38% of new infections were attributed to adolescents 15-24 years of age – this is the future workforce
• most men in the 25-35 age bracket do not know their status and may succumb to the illness sooner and therefore render less contribution to the economic output of the sector

The South African private sector’s response to the HIV, TB and STIs epidemics varies greatly between sectors and is therefore uncoordinated. Over time, there has been much less focus on advocacy and prevention as AIDS programmes have mostly become more mainstreamed and integrated into on-going corporate health and wellness programmes. South Africa subscribes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and if the private sector response to HIV and TB is not re­invigorated, the country is unlikely to meet the targets by 2030.

An integrated response to HIV, TB and STIs as well as the COVID-19 pandemic is necessary given their impact on society. Government has an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), which is chaired by the Deputy President, and it is fully constituted. It is composed of 13 Government Department Ministers who are part of SANAC. The Civil Society Forum, whose chair is the Deputy Chair of SANAC, is also fully constituted and meets from time to time for the purposes of SANAC business. The Civil Society Forum is composed of 18 civil society sectors.

However, the Private Sector Forum, which was a recommendation of the SANAC Private Sector Engagement Strategy, was yet to be established. SABCOHA participated actively in SANAC structures and activities, as private sector; but it is not representative of the South African private sector. SANAC Secretariat also has data sharing agreements with the Council for Medical Schemes and Minerals Health and Safety Council. The proposal was for the Private Sector Forum to be established within SANAC as part of the process of reinvigorating the private sector response to HIV, TB and STIs, integrating a response to the novel COVID-19 pandemic.

The establishment and launch of the Private Sector Forum ensure that the broader private sector in South Africa is fully represented and actively participates in SANAC structures and activities; and is well-coordinated and contributes towards the national response to the epidemics. Moreover, the establishment of this Forum will ensure a fully constituted SANAC.