Building an artificial intelligence-enabled telehealth future for South Africa: The case for regulatory vision and sectoral strategy

Authors

  • M Botes Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST), Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; School of Law, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
  • G Lobban Business Director, Zumbudda (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2025.v115i6.3561

Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, Telehealth Regulation, Digital Health Strategy, Health Data Governance

Abstract

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Author Biographies

  • M Botes, Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST), Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; School of Law, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

    BProc LLB LLM (Intellectual Property) LLD (Biotechnology Law)

    Stellenbosch University - Postdoctoral Research Fellow (CREST)

    University of KwaZulu Natal - Honorary Research Fellow (Health Innovation Law)

    Co-Guest Editor: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience: 

    Legal and Ethical Reforms for Neurotechnological Advancements in the Global South: Perspective and Challenges | Frontiers Research Topic (frontiersin.org) 

    Association for Responsible Research and Innovation in Genome Editing (ARRIGE) - Board Member 

    African Bioethics Network - Country Representative (South Africa) 

    BioLAWgic - CEO

  • G Lobban, Business Director, Zumbudda (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Business Director, Zumbudda (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

References

1. Department of Communication and Digital Technologies, South Africa. South African National Artificial Intelligence Policy Framework. 25 October 2024. https://www.dcdt.gov.za/sa-national-ai- policy-framework/file/338-sa-national-ai-policy-framework.html (accessed 21 March 2025).

2. World Economic Forum. The future of AI-enabled health: Leading the way. White Paper. January 2025. https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_Future_of_AI_Enabled_Health_2025.pdf (accessed 21 March 2025).

3. Government of Malta. Malta AI Taskforce. Malta: Towards trustworthy AI: Malta’s Ethical AI Framework. October 2019. https://malta.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Malta_Towards_Ethical_ and_Trustworthy_AI_vFINAL.pdf (accessed 28 April 2024).

4. Government of Malta. Innovative Technology Arrangements and Services (ITAS) Certification Regulations. Subsidiary legislation 591.01. 14 June 2024. https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/591.1/eng (accessed 28 April 2025).

5. Malta Digital Innovation Authority. Malta Digital Innovation Authority Act No. XXXI of 2018, as amended by Act No. XIX of 2024. https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/591/eng/pdf (accessed 28 April 2025). 6. National Health Strategy, Malta. A National Health Systems Strategy for Malta 2023 - 2030: Investing successfully for a healthier future. December 2022. https://health.gov.mt/wp-content/ uploads/2023/04/A_National_Health_Systems_Strategy_for_Malta_2023_-_2030_Investing_

Successfully_for_a_Healthy_Future_EN.pdf (accessed 12 June 2025).

7. Health Professions Council of South Africa. General medical guidelines for good practice in telehealth.

Booklet 10. Revised December 2021. Pretoria: HPCSA, 2021. https://www.hpcsa-blogs.co.za/wp-

content/uploads/2022/08/Booklet-10_Telehealth__Dec_2021_.pdf (accessed 21 March 2025).

8. Mars M. Telemedicine in KwaZulu-Natal: From failure to cautious optimism. J Telemed Telecare

2007;13(3_Suppl):57-59. https://doi.org/10.1258/135763307783247310

9. National Department of Health, South Africa. National Health Insurance Act 20 of 2023. https://www.

7 July 2025, Vol. 115, No. 6

gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202405/50664nathealthinsuranceact202023.pdf

(accessed

29 April 2025).

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Published

2025-06-30

Issue

Section

Editorials

How to Cite

1.
Botes M, Lobban G. Building an artificial intelligence-enabled telehealth future for South Africa: The case for regulatory vision and sectoral strategy. S Afr Med J [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 30 [cited 2025 Jul. 11];115(6):e3561. Available from: https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/3561

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