Growing relations in the health sector between South Africa and the Hellenic Republic
Athens, Greece - 26 March 2026
Distinguished Trauma Surgeons travelled from South Africa to Athens, during the month of March 2026, to lead medical training sessions and participate in a conference that was held at the Attikon University General Hospital.
Addressing the Trauma Conference on 08 March 2026, the Ambassador of South Africa to Greece, Dr Lindiwe Msengana-Ndlela, recognised the role of the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Marios Themistocleous and acknowledged the Ministry of Health for this collaboration. She applauded the Conference Co-Presidents (Prof Koulouvaris and Prof Vassiliu) and health practitioners for taking practical steps to strengthen public health systems and promote excellence in trauma surgery in academic hospitals of both countries.
Also participating in the conference were the President of the Hellenic Surgical Society, Prof Manos Pikoulis and the President of the Scientific Committee, Prof Michalis Chrisophos.
The Ambassador thanked the following specialist surgeons for travelling to Athens for this purpose:
Dr Chico Nyatsambo, she practices at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) in Soweto - the largest trauma centre in SA,
Dr Riaan Pretorius, the Head of Trauma Surgery at CHBAH,
Dr Tamsanqa Mazibuko, from Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, and
Dr Shabaan Kai Kai from Namibia.
South Africa is world renowned for its advances and innovations in trauma care from the above-mentioned institutions, and from hospitals such as Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria and iNkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban.
Academic research indicates that approximately 84% of international medical trainees from Europe choose South Africa for their trauma electives. Our institutions also collaborate with health partners in countries of the SADC region and the rest of the African continent.
However, there are stubborn disparities in access to trauma surgical care in South Africa. These are being addressed by the Department of Health and the rest of government. They emanate, in large part, from the legacy of apartheid and under-development in disadvantaged areas.
Despite these challenges, medical students from different backgrounds are now able to access surgery training from institutions such as the Trauma Society of SA, the Colleges of Medicine South Africa (CMSA), public universities, such as the University of Cape Town’s Global Surgery Division and the University of Witwatersrand (Wits). The latter has also recently signed and MoU and a Collaboration Agreement with the University of Athens.
The presentations from the four surgeons were well received, pointing to their exceptional expertise and dedication to trauma care. In his remarks at the Conference, the President of the School of Medical School of Athens, Professor Nikolaos Arkadopoulos, thanked the Ambassador and all colleagues from South Africa for providing excellent educational opportunities for Greek doctors in the major Trauma Centers of South Africa.
The South African Embassy in Athens is committed to facilitating initiatives that can expand knowledge sharing between medical experts and supporting the building of equitable systems that can bring about positive health outcomes for all.
South African Embassy in Athens, Greece