EY-Parthenon Real-World Strategy Dialogues – Dr Ron Whelan unpacks the future of South Africa’s healthcare industry

In the second episode of EY-Parthenon’s Real-World Strategy Dialogues – a podcast series by EY-Parthenon – Discovery Health CEO Dr Ron Whelan discusses the future of healthcare in South Africa.

Whelan is a trained doctor with an MBA from the University of Witwatersrand and boasts extensive experience in the healthcare industry.

He served as an Associate Partner at McKinsey and Company from 2006 to 2013, where he co-led the company’s healthcare practice across sub-Saharan Africa.

Whelan then became Partner and the Head of Healthcare Investments at Spinnaker Growth Partners from 2013 to 2019, before being appointed to his current position.

He is also the co-founder of Healthforce, a leading telemedicine player in South Africa.

EY-Parthenon interview

Whelan begins the interview by explaining how he expects the health industry to evolve in the coming years, due to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases.

He then outlines how Discovery Health is adapting its business strategy to take advantage of the latest digital technologies.

Whelan also talks about his perspective on universal healthcare in South Africa and how he feels about the NHI.

He then touches on the strategic imperatives he believes are essential for Discovery Health to be successful.

Whelan concludes the interview by offering his thoughts on AI adoption and how it may impact the healthcare industry.

Watch the full EY-Parthenon interview with Dr Ron Whelan below.