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Africa’s Health Leaders Converge in Johannesburg for HISA 2026
Healthcare leaders, policymakers, clinicians, and technology innovators from across the continent will gather in Johannesburg on 27–28 May 2026 for the Healthcare Innovation Summit Africa 2026 (HISA)—one of Africa’s foremost platforms dedicated to digital transformation in healthcare.
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The 11th edition of the summit will focus on how connected digital systems, data interoperability, and responsible artificial intelligence can strengthen healthcare delivery across Africa. As a Silver Sponsor, InterSystems will demonstrate how intelligent, connected healthcare ecosystems can help organisations improve patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and long-term system resilience.
From AI Experimentation to Scalable Healthcare Impact
As African healthcare systems contend with rising patient demand, workforce shortages, fragmented records, and increasing data complexity, the conversation around artificial intelligence has shifted decisively from experimentation to execution.
Healthcare organisations now require trusted, interoperable data platforms capable of supporting AI safely and at scale. The ability to unify fragmented clinical and operational data into accessible, reliable patient records has become central to both healthcare resilience and effective AI adoption—an area where InterSystems has built deep global expertise.
Global Expertise, Practical Local Insight
Representing InterSystems at HISA 2026 will be Dr. Yossi Cohen, Physician Executive at InterSystems. He will share insights on one of healthcare’s most urgent challenges: how to integrate AI into clinical environments and electronic health records in ways that deliver measurable value for both clinicians and patients.
Dr. Cohen brings a rare combination of frontline clinical experience and advanced technical leadership. A practising NHS physician with more than a decade in digital health, his background spans medical record systems, clinical applications, machine learning, and AI-enabled healthcare technologies. Prior to joining InterSystems, he held leadership roles in computational drug discovery and portable MRI innovation.
The Central Role of Trusted, Connected Healthcare Data
According to Henry Adams, Country Manager at InterSystems South Africa, data fragmentation remains the biggest barrier to unlocking AI’s potential in healthcare.
Henry Adams
“At the heart of effective AI in healthcare is trusted, connected data. Healthcare organisations cannot unlock the full potential of AI if information remains fragmented across systems. The future depends on giving clinicians the right information at the right time—while maintaining safety, governance, and patient trust,” Adams said.
Building AI-Ready Health Systems Through Interoperability
InterSystems has long been a global leader in healthcare interoperability and unified data platforms. Through solutions such as InterSystems IRIS for Health and HealthShare, healthcare providers can create a single, longitudinal patient record across care settings.
These platforms help break down data silos, deliver clinically relevant information in real time, and establish the trusted data foundations required for coordinated care, improved decision-making, and responsible AI deployment.
Alignment with HISA 2026’s Vision for Africa
The theme of HISA 2026—“Connected Care, Smarter Systems: Building a Digitally Resilient African Health Ecosystem”—closely mirrors InterSystems’ mission to enable AI-ready, interoperable healthcare infrastructures across Africa.
The summit will convene hospital executives, CIOs, public health leaders, clinicians, digital transformation specialists, and healthtech innovators to explore practical approaches to improving healthcare access and service delivery. Key discussion areas include AI adoption, interoperability, telemedicine, digital health infrastructure, and connected care models.
Driving Meaningful Action for African Healthcare Systems
“HISA has become a critical platform for advancing meaningful healthcare innovation across Africa,” Adams added. “We look forward to engaging with leaders on how connected data strategies, interoperable systems, and practical AI implementation can strengthen healthcare delivery across the continent.”
Delegates visiting the InterSystems stand will have the opportunity to engage directly with experts and explore how intelligent data platforms can help healthcare organisations build more connected, resilient, and future-ready health systems.
