Johannesburg, August 2024 – On the eve of Women’s Day, the South African Medical Technology Industry Association (SAMED) has begun tracking and measuring the performance and practices related to women’s inclusion, diversity and empowerment within the medtech industry and its value chain.
Out of 154 member companies, 40 have already pledged their participation in the SAMED Women Empowerment Index. The intention is to have all SAMED members participate as well as encourage non-member medtech organisations to join the industry’s drive for gender equality.
The initiative is partly in response to broader and industry-specific figures that underscore insufficient gender transformation. Globally, women are underrepresented in leadership, with 24% of c-suite positions in medtech being filled by women. Only 17.3% of South African companies have women CEOs and chairpersons, while only 1-6% of government procurement ends up with women-owned businesses.
SAMED is eager to change this by assisting medtech to be the first industry sector that has a collective mechanism to promote women employment and their equal access to advancement, learnership and ownership. Additionally, the Index will equip member companies with certified data they can use to substantiate their annual reports, tender applications and marketing as well as tap into R200 billion worth of public procurement earmarked by government for women-owned businesses.
The tailor-built Index operates on a secure online platform as a benchmarking tool to establish baseline scores and track and measure key metrics over time:
- Women’s employment rates
- Female representation in leadership positions
- Women’s ownership in medtech companies and across their supply chain
- Opportunities for women’s development
- Remuneration levels for women.
The online platform that hosts the Index will empower medtech suppliers to access custom-made reports comparing their company scores against industry averages. Moreover, SAMED will issue certificates to participating companies, enhancing their competitiveness in tendering processes.
By providing accurate and up-to-date data, the initiative will foster equality and diversity in the medtech industry, showcasing its commitment to transparency, inclusivity and to ensuring that every individual, regardless of gender, race, creed or age has the opportunity to participate in the industry.
SAMED will also be able to provide reliable information on transformation and gender parity to the South African authorities, the Labour Department, the Health Department, National and Provincial, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), private hospital networks and health funders.
The intervention will align with and enhance other SAMED and sector objectives and programmes including YES 4 Youth through which 41 SAMED member companies have created more than 2 700 youth jobs (64% female youth employees) and the 2024 MEDTECH Masterplan goal to generate 1 000 new jobs in the medtech sector over the next three years.
Scott de Oliviera, chair of the SAMED Diversity Committee and vice president of a member company, urged fellow members, captains of industry and partners to embrace the opportunity that the SAMED Women Empowerment Index provides to achieve meaningful change. “Let us support and uplift one another, advocating for fairness and championing diversity at every level of our organisations. Together, let us strive to be the change and make a lasting impact. So, the question is “what have you done today, to make you feel proud…””
Tanya Vogt, SAMED Executive Officer says: “Including and empowering women within your company and supply chain has proven benefits. It increases company performance, productivity, innovation, creativity and profitability as diverse perspectives lead to better decision-making. Tracking and comparing your scores against peers enables you to identify gaps that need attention. This is a quick-win opportunity to improve your B-BBEE rating and prepare the company for the imminent implementation of SAHPRA’s Draft B-BBEE Policy which will affect the prioritisation of licences.
“The message we would like to extend to the whole healthcare sector is that women inclusion is pro-business and pro-development.”
