Fighting diabetes together.
The Diabetes Alliance is a non-profit organisation (NPO 242-237) committed to improving the health and wellness of people living with diabetes in South Africa.
We do this by creating conditions for new ways that government, philanthropic foundations, civil society, business, academic institutions, health professionals and people living with diabetes can work together in improving access to treatment and care.
We aim to:
- Present a united voice for diabetes in South Africa.
- Advocate for better access to care, health budget and education for people with diabetes.
- Create a network of collaboration: connecting the dots between all the players in the diabetes field and giving them a voice.
We have both Active and Associate Members. Active Members are actively involved in the work of the Diabetes Alliance – Associate Members attend meetings but don’t play an active role.
Active Members:
The CDE is a National Network of nearly 200 trained health professional teams nurtured in the private health sector since 1994, but with a vision to facilitate better chronic health care for all South Africans. With our unique approach to preventative and wellness-based care, and using the latest evidence and techniques, we have trained and mentored over 10 000 health professionals to put the person with diabetes or cardiovascular risk, at the centre of all we do. www.cdediabetes.co.za
Diabetes South Africa is a non-profit organization, founded in 1969 to be a support and an advocate for all people with diabetes in South Africa. www.diabetessa.org.za
FIND, the global alliance for diagnostics, seeks to ensure equitable access to reliable diagnosis around the world. We connect countries and communities, funders, decision-makers, healthcare providers and developers to spur diagnostic innovation and make testing an integral part of sustainable, resilient health systems. www.finddx.org
The SAPH research programme in the HSRC undertakes groundbreaking research on the social determinants, behavioural determinants, and structural determinants of the quadruple burden of disease of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB), maternal and childhood diseases; non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and violence and injuries. It also develops intervention programmes and undertakes implementation science research. http://www.hsrc.ac.za/
The ICPA (Independent Community Pharmacy Association) puts people’s health and wellbeing first, by putting independent pharmacy at the forefront of healthcare in South Africa. The ICPA Pharmacy Network consists of over 1200 independent pharmacies across South Africa. www.icpa.co.za
AUTHeR (The Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research) facilitates engaged research through collaboration between partners in AUTHeR and larger communities for mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources within the context of partnership and reciprocity, ultimately to enable social justice. www.health-sciences.nwu.ac.za/auther
SEMDSA (Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa) is a scientific society open to medical practitioners and allied medical professionals interested in endocrinology, metabolism and diabetes. SEMDSA aims to further the clinical practice; to promote both clinical and scientific research as well as publication and advocacy into all branches of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes. www.semdsa.org.za/
Sweet Life is an inspiring diabetes community for Diabetic South Africans. We are a registered NPO (220-984) with a single focus: to improve diabetes in South Africa. www.sweetlife.org.za
Group Empowerment and Training (GREAT) for diabetes is a project of the Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care at Stellenbosch University. GREAT is aimed at empowering people with diabetes to understand and self-manage their condition better.
Abbott creates new solutions that help people live their best lives. www.za.abbott
BD is a global medical technology company that is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. www.bd.com/en-za
Guidepost is South Africa’s leading diabetes telemedicine network and has delivered care to more than 20,000 South Africans with diabetes.
www.guidepost.net
As a global healthcare leader, Lilly is inspired to make a difference in people’s lives every day – through the discovery of life-changing medicines, better understanding of disease management, and support for people living with illness and their families and friends. www.lillydiabetes.co.za
Medtronic Diabetes is a biomedical engineering company that develops technologies for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, such as sensor-augmented insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors. www.medtronicdiabetes.co.za
Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 90 years of innovation in diabetes care. This heritage coupled with our commitment has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help turn scientific ideas into medicines that help improve the lives of people with other serious chronic conditions. www.novonordisk.com
Roche Diabetes Care collaborates with caregivers, healthcare providers and payers to optimally manage diabetes and contribute to sustainable care structures. Under the brand Accu-Chek and in collaboration with partners, Roche Diabetes Care establishes a leading open ecosystem for personalised diabetes management and improved therapy outcomes. www.accu-chek.co.za
Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people through their health challenges. We are a global bio-pharmaceutical company focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We stand by the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with long-term chronic conditions. With more than 100,000 people in 100 countries, Sanofi is transforming scientific innovation into healthcare solutions around the globe. www.sanofi.co.za
Associate Members:
Improving the health and quality of life of humans and animals is the goal of the research-driven pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. The company concentrates on developing innovative therapies that can extend patients’ lives. www.boehringer-ingelheim.com
The Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa (CDIA) is a network of multidisciplinary researchers from the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University, University of the Western Cape, and the South African Medical Research Council, and policymakers from local and national Departments of Health. The Centre serves as a regional hub for developing and evaluating models of chronic disease care and prevention. www.cdia.uct.ac.za
Clicks is South Africa’s leading health, beauty, home and wellness retailer, with more than 700 stores, over 540 in-store pharmacies and 200 in-store clinics nationwide. www.clicks.co.za
Dis-Chem has been South Africa’s first choice in pharmacies since 1978, with our linked dispensaries, family clinics, wound-care clinics and comprehensive self-medication centres. As a leading specialist in beauty, healthy food, sport supplements, health and well-being, we offer the widest ranges in these categories and expert advice. www.dischem.co.za
Ethitech Health Innovation puts people living with diabetes at the centre of our business. By introducing innovative diabetes technologies with the main aim of empowering the person living with diabetes to live their best life. www.ethitechdiabetes.co.za
Merck is a vibrant team of specialists in Healthcare, Life Science and Electronics. www.merckgroup.com
OSSA is the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa. They promote appropriate, high quality, cost effective ophthalmological treatment and care for all their patients. www.ossa.co.za
Pick n Pay is a retail business in the fast-moving consumer goods industry on the African continent that believes doing good is good business. www.pnp.co.za
Cabblow Studios (Pty) Ltd is a registered animation and illustration company. We are the first South African
animation studio with a targeted focus on servicing the medical industry. The studio produces original animation content for short films and documentaries, for the medical and pharmaceutical industry. We have created a short animated film on the complications of diabetes called “3 Teaspoons of Sugar©”. Cabblow Studios
DESSA is the Diabetes Education Society of South Africa. They are the only association in South Africa dedicated to the hundreds of diabetes educators who need representation at government level and other associations related to diabetes. They are recognised by IDF as the representatives of Diabetes Educators in South Africa. www.dessa.org.za
PASA is the Podiatry Association of South Africa, which represents podiatrists around the country. Established in 1979, we are the recognised voice of podiatry in South Africa, representing podiatrists in both private practice and the public sector. We are dedicated to promoting awareness of foot health, preventing lower limb injuries and assisting our members. www.podiatrist.co.za
Youth With Diabetes (YWD) is a registered nonprofit organisation (NPO 057-954) that empowers kids, teens and young adults living with diabetes to live happy, healthy lives. We empower our members through the use of peer-to-peer education on diabetes camps and also offer teacher training in schools. www.youthwithdiabetes.com
Our Vision
Diabetes poses an incredible threat to the wellbeing of South Africa. Any healthcare entity, whether in the private or public sector, will agree that a collective effort is required to combat this epidemic: it is a universal threat affecting all races, age groups and genders.
Just like the many political parties in SA, different business entities may have different ‘flavours’ in the way they approach problem solving. However, getting attached to these differences takes away from the universal mandate of taking care of the nation.
Our Values
Transparency
We are open and honest about all our work.
Collaboration
We believe real change happens when we join forces for diabetes.
Accountability
We strive to ensure the accountability of public, private and individual diabetes care providers, including ourselves.
Our Constitution
Here is the Diabetes Alliance Constitution, adopted in December 2019.
Our Vision, Mission and Values
Our Vision, Mission and Values are detailed below.
Diabetes Alliance Competition Law Brief
Please download the Diabetes Alliance Competition Law Brief here.
The Diabetes Charter
South Africa’s first Diabetes Charter, compiled for the inaugural Diabetes Summit, is here.
