18 September 2025

Venue: Discovery Health, Sandton

Topic: The use of Biologics in the Treatment of Severe Asthma - Adult and Paediatric perspective

Suggested programme

Times to be confirmed.

07h30 Networking and refreshments
08h00 Welcoming and sharing of meeting intent
08h10 Clinical discussion - Adult perspective (Prof Richard van Zyl-Smit)
08h40 Clinical discussion - Paediatric perspective (Prof van Niekerk)
09h10 Funding discussion - PMB Legislation & Funding Criteria (Dr Liliana Santos)
09h30 EML discussion - To be confirmed
09h50 Panel Discussion
10h15 General Q&A
10h30 Close

Planning meeting notes

Meeting Details

  • Date: 15 August 2025
  • Topic: Finalising Programme for PTCMA Asthma Discussion
  • Participants:
    • Janine Janse van Rensburg
    • Liliana Santos
    • Natasha Langley

Key Objectives

  • Finalise structure and content for the asthma programme.
  • Clarify presentation topics, time allocation, and discussion boundaries.
  • Ensure sensitive topics are handled objectively and factually.

Presentation Structure

  • Duration: ~20 minutes per presentation.
  • Main Focus: Asthma (adult and paediatric), biologics, PMB (Prescribed Minimum Benefits), and legal aspects.
  • Additional Elements: Clinical presentations, patient types, and economic considerations.

Discussion Highlights

  1. PMB (Prescribed Minimum Benefits)
  • Common Misconceptions:
    • PMB does not mean all treatments are automatically funded.
    • Only treatments at PMB level of care are covered.
  • Key Points to Emphasize:
    • PMB is regulated by CMS (Council for Medical Schemes) under the Department of Health.
    • Equivalent to government/state level of care.
    • Medical schemes are legally obligated to provide PMB-level care, not beyond.
  • Approach:
    • Keep discussion factual and avoid emotional or scheme-specific debates.
    • Avoid comparisons between schemes or defending medical aids.
  1. Linking PMB to Asthma
  • Show Essential Drug List (EDL) for asthma.
  • Explain what constitutes national level of care for asthma.
  • Provide links and resources for clinicians to access guidelines.
  1. Handling Sensitive Discussions
  • Anticipate controversial questions and prepare redirection strategies.
  • Avoid discussions on affordability, scheme-specific practices, or personal attacks.
  • Keep focus on regulation, definitions, and clinical application.

Panel Discussion

  • Questions to be addressed at the end.
  • Boundaries to be set to maintain respectful and focused dialogue.
  • Possible pre-meeting with all contributors to align on discussion limits.

Funding & Sustainability

  • Initial idea: Include a session on scheme sustainability and differences (open vs closed schemes).
  • Concerns:
    • May derail focus from asthma.
    • Sensitive topic; could lead to conflict.
  • Alternative:
    • Instead of scheme structures, focus on how EDL is determined and why biologics are excluded.
    • Suggest inviting a government representative or pulmonologist involved in EDL development.

Biologics & Access

  • Medical schemes have no legal obligation to fund biologics unless included in state-level care.
  • Doctors and pharma companies know that inclusion in EDL is key for funding.
  • Emphasize that PMB obligations are law-driven, not discretionary.

✅ Action Items

  • Liliana to prepare a presentation focused on PMBs and asthma, avoiding scheme-specific details.
  • Natasha to consider recommending a speaker from the actuarial or product design space for funding-related insights.
  • Janine to reach out to potential government representatives or clinicians for EDL-related input.
  • All to contribute to defining panel discussion boundaries and prepare for a pre-event alignment meeting.

 

15 August planning meeting notes

📝 Meeting Details

  • Date: 8 August 2025
  • Time: 11:00 AM
  • Platform: Virtual
  • Facilitator: Janine Janse van Rensburg
  • Participants:
    • PTCMA: Sandra Slabbert, Masetshaba Mpete
    • AstraZeneca: Ruan Smit, Jacques Scheepers
    • Sanofi: Dwayne Koot, Ashti Juggath
    • Momentum: Liliana Santos

🗓️ Event Overview

  • Date of Event: 18 September 2025
  • Topic: Biologics in Severe Asthma
  • Format: Presentations followed by a panel discussion
  • Audience: Primarily PTCMA members, pharma and funder companies. Session will be recorded and shared with clinicians.

📚 Programme Structure

  1. Clinical Presentations
  • Prof Richard van Zyl-Smit: Adult perspective on biologics in severe asthma.
  • Prof Andre van Niekerk: Paediatric perspective.
  • Prof Jacques Snyman (tentative): Health economic overview of biologics in South Africa.
  1. Funding Presentations
  • Topics:
    • PMB (Prescribed Minimum Benefits) legislation and funding criteria.
    • Scheme differences and sustainability.
  • Liliana Santos: Volunteered to present on PMB legislation.
  • Other funders (Discovery, Bestmed, Medscheme) to be approached for second presentation.
  1. Panel Discussion
  • All presenters to participate.
  • Aim: Collaborative discussion on identifying the ideal patient for biologics, considering clinical, funding, and economic perspectives.

💬 Key Discussion Points

  • Biologics are expensive; funding decisions must be carefully considered.
  • Asthma is a PMB condition, which influences funding eligibility.
  • Scheme Variability:
    • Different schemes (open vs. closed) have varying policies.
    • Discovery offers options for innovative medicine; others may not.
    • Importance of understanding commonalities and differences across schemes.
  • Liliana’s Input:
    • Prefers to present on PMB legislation due to familiarity.
    • Knows all three professors; has prior experience with Prof Snyman.
    • Suggests a joint discussion with other funders to align presentation content.

📌 Action Items

  • Janine to:
    • Share notes and website access with Liliana.
    • Set up a meeting with all funders to finalise presentation content.
    • Request presentation briefs from sponsors for clinical presenters.
    • Confirm sponsorship agreements and send quotes.
    • Coordinate with education task team for additional input.
  • Sponsors to:
    • Provide presentation briefs for clinical speakers.
    • Confirm sponsorship logistics by Wednesday.

⚠️ Potential Conflict

  • Annual Managed Care Symposium: Scheduled for 17–18 September in Sandton.
    • May overlap with PTCMA event.
    • Presenters include Discovery and Medscheme representatives.
    • Janine and Sandra to investigate further and share details via email.

✅ Meeting Wrap-Up

  • General consensus: Excitement and readiness for the event.
  • Next meeting: Tentatively scheduled for next week, pending developments.
  • Janine to confirm necessity of follow-up meeting.

 

8 August planning meeting notes

📝 Meeting Details

  • Date: 1 August 2025
  • Time: 11:00 AM
  • Platform: Virtual
  • Facilitator: Janine Janse van Rensburg
  • Participants:
    • PTCMA: Sandra Slabbert
    • AstraZeneca: Ruan Smit, Jacques Scheepers
    • Sanofi: Dwayne Koot, Luzaan van Zyl, Ashti Juggath
    • Discovery: Heather Rens
    • Medscheme: Natasha Langley

🗓 Meeting Overview

  • Purpose: Finalise the programme for the upcoming asthma session, confirm presenters, sponsorship, and logistics.
  • Format: Informal planning session

🎤 Presenter Discussions

  1. Prof Jacques Snyman
  • Suggested by Ruth for a health economics presentation.
  • Has worked on local cost-effectiveness models for biologics in severe asthma.
  • May present economic data and potentially chair the session.
  • Janine to reach out to him with a brief and questions from the team.
  1. Prof van Zyl-Smit
  • Confirmed availability.
  • Proposed to present on:
    • Adult asthma guidelines
    • Scorecard/endorsement mechanism
  • Considered more ideal than Prof Lalloo due to broader involvement.
  1. Prof Lalloo
  • No response yet.
  • Might be unavailable; will request Prof van Zyl-Smit to deliver this presentation.
  1. Prof Masekela
  • Not available in person.
  • Interested in participating via Zoom.
  • Team to assess practicality of remote participation.
  1. Dr Ashley Jeevarathnum
  • Paediatric pulmonologist.
  • Considered as a substitute for Prof Masekela.
  • Has practical experience prescribing biologics.
  1. Dr Rose Sesane
  • Up-and-coming HCP with a background as a nurse.
  • Works in Pretoria and has experience in both private and academic sectors.
  • Suggested for diversity and practical insights.
  1. Dr Ahmed Manjra
  • First author of paediatric guidelines.
  • Experienced in asthma and funding challenges.
  • Suggested as a strong candidate for the paediatric asthma presentation.

🧠 Key Themes & Considerations

  1. Content Balance
  • Avoid overloading clinical data.
  • Prioritise funding discussions, especially local cost-effectiveness.
  • Ensure time for economic models and funding mechanisms.
  1. Diversity & Representation
  • Concern raised about lack of diversity.
  • Considered alternatives to improve demographic balance.
  • Zoom participation from Prof Masekela could help.
  1. Logistics
  • Preference for face-to-face meeting.
  • Streaming and remote participation considered as backup.
  • Discovery auditorium has necessary facilities.
  1. Budget & Sponsorship
  • Travel costs excluded from sponsorship.
  • Final presenter list needed to estimate costs.

✅ Action Items

  1. Janine to:
    • Reach out to Prof Snyman with questions and availability.
    • Contact presenters and confirm participation.
    • Coordinate with Discovery for streaming setup.
    • Distribute profiles of Dr Sesane and Dr Jeevarathnum.
  2. Team Members to:
    • Submit questions for Prof Snyman.
    • Suggest priority order for paediatric presenters.
    • Consider diversity and balance in panel composition.
  3. Next Meeting:
    • Proposed for Friday mornings at 11:00 AM.
    • Will include confirmed presenters.
1 August planning meeting notes

📝 Meeting Details

  • Date: 25 July 2025
  • Time: 11:00 AM
  • Platform: Virtual
  • Facilitator: Janine Janse van Rensburg
  • Participants:
    • PTCMA: Sandra Slabbert, Masetshaba Mpete
    • AstraZeneca: Ruth Field, Ruan Smit, Phumlani Mancapha
    • Sanofi: Dwayne Koot, Luzaan van Zyl, Ashti Juggath
    • Discovery: Heather Rens
    • BestMed: Lee Moses

🎯 Meeting Objectives

  • Finalise the agenda and structure for the upcoming Severe Asthma F2F event on 18 September 2025.
  • Clarify clinical and funding topics.
  • Confirm speakers and sponsorship commitments.
  • Address concerns from funders and sponsors.

📌 Key Discussion Points

  1. Event Format & Agenda
  • Venue: Discovery Health (confirmed).
  • Time: 07:30–10:30 AM
  • Structure:
    • 07:30–08:00: Networking & refreshments
    • 08:00–08:10: Welcome & meeting intent
    • 08:10–08:50: Clinical presentations (adult & paediatric – 20 min each)
    • 08:50–09:50: Funder presentations (20 min each)
    • 09:50–10:30: Panel discussion + Q&A

 

  1. Clinical Focus
  • Main Theme: Biologics in severe asthma.
  • Topics to be addressed:
    • Entry/exit criteria for biologics
    • Risk-benefit analysis
    • Cost implications
    • Pharmacogenetics & personalised treatment
    • Who is the appropriate patient?
    • What is available in the public sector and when is it given?
  • Paediatric vs Adult Focus:
    • Strong support for including paediatric asthma due to early intervention benefits and lower costs.
    • AstraZeneca emphasized adult asthma relevance due to product indications.
  1. Suggested Clinical Speakers
  • Prof Umesh Lalloo: Adult asthma guidelines and international practices.
  • Prof Refiloe Masekela: Paediatric asthma, SATS endorsement mechanism.
  • Prof Van Zyl-Smit: SATS biologic checklist and registry (possible chairperson).
  1. Funder Topics
  • PMB Legislation & Funding Criteria
    • Understand that when the PMBs were compiled, biologics did not exist yet
  • Scheme differences and sustainability:
    • Open vs Closed schemes
    • Scheme & Option Sustainability
  • OPTIONAL: Interaction with Societies & Review Panels
    • Use of external panels for complex cases
    • SATS endorsement mechanism and registry
    • Importance of transparency in funding decisions

 

  1. Challenges Highlighted
  • Data Quality: Adult asthma data is often mixed with COPD, complicating analysis.
  • Funding Complexity: Variability across schemes and plan types creates confusion.
  • Equitable Access: Need for clearer clinical criteria and alignment across funders.
  • Cost Effectiveness: Biologics are expensive; funding decisions must consider long-term outcomes and affordability.
  1. Action Items
  • Dwayne to contact proposed speakers and confirm availability.
  • AstraZeneca to confirm sponsorship commitment by Tuesday (i.e. 29 July 2025).
  • Janine to circulate meeting notes and draft presentation questions.
  • PTCMA to reach out to other funders (e.g., Momentum, Metropolitan) for participation.

✅ Consensus & Next Steps

  • Agreement to include both paediatric and adult asthma discussions.
  • Support for panel format to encourage diverse expert input.
  • Need for clarity on funder expectations and scheme-specific criteria.
  • Continued collaboration to finalise agenda and logistics.
25 July planning meeting notes

📝 Meeting Summary: PTCMA Severe Asthma Discussion Planning

Date: 3 July 2025
Time: 12:01 PM
Facilitator: Janine Janse van Rensburg
Purpose: To plan an in-person industry discussion on Severe Asthma and Biologics, proposed for September 2025.

👥 Attendees

Representatives from:

  • PTCMA: Janine Janse van Rensburg, Sandra Slabbert, Masetshaba Mpete
  • Sanofi: Dwayne Koot, Luzaan van Wyk, Ashti Juggath
  • AstraZeneca: Lynne Bisschoff

🧠 Key Discussion Points

  1. Event Objective & Format
  • Build on the success of the previous year’s event on atopic dermatitis.
  • Focus on severe asthma, particularly biologics and their role in treatment.
  • Encourage multi-stakeholder engagement: funders, clinicians, pharma.
  • Discuss innovation, clinical guidelines, funding challenges, and collaborative opportunities.
  1. Proposed Agenda (3 hours: 7:30–10:30 AM)
  • Networking & Refreshments
  • Welcome & Intent
  • Clinical Presentation (suggested: Prof. Masekela)
  • Funders’ Perspectives (Discovery, Medscheme, Bestmed)
  • Optional: Legal or health economics input
  • Panel Discussion with Q&A
  1. Speaker Suggestions
  • Prof. Masekela (President of SATS) – Keynote on clinical landscape and guidelines.
  • Prof. Richard van Zyl-Smit – Asthma registry and endorsement mechanisms.
  • Alton Samuels – Legal expert (tentative, depending on relevance).
  1. Content Guidelines
  • Focus on disease-level insights, not product-specific promotion.
  • Include clinical, funder, and possibly provider perspectives.
  • Consider health economic data if relevant and available.
  • Avoid legal content unless clearly beneficial and non-confrontational.
  1. Venue & Date
  • Preferred Venue: Discovery Auditorium, Johannesburg
  • Tentative Date: Thursday, 18 September 2025
  • Backup Venue: Bestmed, Pretoria

✅ Action Items

  • Janine:
    • Confirm venue (preferably Discovery).
    • Draft and circulate a refined programme.
    • Coordinate with education task team and funders.
  • All Attendees:
    • Suggest speakers and content.
    • Provide feedback on the draft programme.

🗣️ Discussion Highlights

  • Dwayne Koot emphasized replicating the success of last year’s event, focusing on biologics in severe asthma.
  • Luzaan van Wyk highlighted the lack of innovation in asthma treatment compared to other PMB conditions and the need for funders to share their perspectives on innovation and funding.
  • Lynne Bisschoff suggested involving Jacques for more asthma-specific expertise and proposed Alton Samuels for legal insights.
  • Concerns were raised about including legal perspectives due to potential sensitivities; the group leaned toward focusing on clinical and funder input.
  • Prof. Masekela was strongly endorsed as the keynote speaker due to her multiple leadership roles in asthma-related organizations.
  • Prof. van Zyl-Smit was proposed to present on the asthma registry and endorsement mechanisms, possibly via Zoom if travel is impractical.
  • Health economic input was discussed but deemed unnecessary unless relevant data becomes available.
  • Pharma involvement (Sanofi, AstraZeneca) was debated; the group agreed to tread carefully and prioritize funder and clinical voices.

📅 Next Steps

  • Schedule a follow-up meeting before end of July 2025 with the education task team.
  • Finalize speakers and programme structure.
  • Confirm venue and logistics.
3 July planning meeting notes

How will it look like?

Clinical discussion

Presenter should:

  • have an academic association or have been involved in clinical trials,
  • have a passion for the patient,
  • be reasonably pragmatic – someone who understands that we want to get to a best-case scenario rather than a perfect solution.

Presentation should include:

  • information on the treatment,
  • how it compares to other standard treatments,
  • the outcomes,
  • timelines of treatment,
  • which cohort of patients it would be most beneficial.

The intention is to present facts and outcomes that can form the foundation for the rest of the discussions.

Funding presentation requirements

To be fleshed out

  • Share what the treatment and reimbursement guidelines are in other countries compared to South Africa,
  • share the challenges funders are facing in applying these guidelines,
  • share realistic possible solutions to these challenges.

The reality is that there are patients that require treatment that far outweighs their monthly contributions, resulting in funders needing to be responsible stewards in reimbursing as many members as they can in the place they need it most. The intention is to view the treatment of the disease from a funding perspective and together with the clinical perspective, open up for a discussion that can lead to guidelines on when and where treatment can be reimbursed that it is most appropriate and realistic.

Provider discussion

To be confirmed

A representative from the pharmaceutical or medical technology provider discusses:

  • Possible challenges in pricing,
  • what flexibility there might be in the pricing.

After all is said and done, every part of the healthcare industry, the clinicians, funders and providers, will all need to compromise. Can we come together and discuss how we can all work together for the good of the patient?

Costing

  • Corporate Members

    Exclusive sponsorship:
    R40 300.00

    Co-sponsorship:
    R20 150.00

Includes:

  • Honoraria of R5 600 included for Clinical Presenter
  • Panel of funding presenters
  • Full facilitation of 2-3 hour session
  • Hosted in JHB, CPT or PTA
  • Programme coordination
  • Venue costs
  • Catering
  • Video conferencing to funders in other regions
  • Recording
  • CPD accreditation
  • Sponsor allowed banners at venue outside of meeting room & acknowledgment in event programme
  • Excludes travel costs

Recording and hosting – included

  • Copy sent to sponsor
  • Hosted on secure PTCMA Portal for 12 months
  • Open to all PTCMA members and clinicians registered with HPCSA
  • Includes coupon for 50 individual accesses for non-members

Process

4 months prior
3 months prior
Lead-up to event - 8 weeks prior
Event day
Week after

Request the event

Complete the Discussion request form:

  • With suggested date
  • General topic idea
  • Possible co-sponsors to approach
  • Venue
  • Possible contributors

Pre-planning discussion

PTCMA arranges a Teams meeting between the sponsors, PTCMA Management Team and Education Task Team representative, to discuss the expectation, and information shared on the form.

If all are in agreement, the PTCMA will share an event proposal to be signed by the sponsors to formalise the meeting.

Programme check-ins

As the programme is confirmed, have two-weekly check-ins as is appropriate for presenters to understand the requirements, arrange the practicalities, etc.

Face-to-face discussion

Event takes place:

  • PTCMA manages registrations, etc
  • There is catering for before and after with a quick coffee break in the middle
  • Chairperson opens the meeting and introduces the presenters
  • Panel discussion is facilitated by the chairperson and all the contributors serve on the panel
  • Networking opportunity before and after session
  • A event survey is shared before closing off the session to get feedback.

Debriefing

  • Discuss feedback from all contributors
  • Share feedback from delegates
  • Discuss any possible further action points.

Scheduled Events

Please note that dates, topics and presenters are subject to change.

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