Achieving health and access to effective health care for all South Africans

Providing leadership and a collective voice to improve access to health as a human right, through knowledge sharing, capacity building and partnership

Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA)

Advancing public health for a healthier nation

PHASA is a national, voluntary Section 21 Not‑for‑Profit Organization established in 2000 to strengthen and promote the health and well‑being of all people living in South Africa. As a leading voice for public health, PHASA provides a collaborative forum that connects community stakeholders, professionals, and academic networks across the country and beyond.

Core Values

Equity

Integrity

Social responsibility

Caring/ compassion/ empathy

Partnership

Proactive

Our Commitment

PHASA has the following Objectives

  • To advocate for access to health as a human right for all people in South Africa by influencing policy changes and promoting public campaigns.
  • To promote conditions for a healthy society by initiating community programs and public awareness campaigns, achieving notable improvements in public health.
  • To facilitate multi-disciplinary activities for health and wellness through organizing regular events such as meetings, conferences, and workshops.
  • To support disease prevention and health promotion initiatives by forming strategic partnerships to achieve measurable improvements in public health indicators.
  • To support public health leaders and advocates through enabling public health networks, promoting public health advocacy.

Our Membership

Our membership represents the full spectrum of public health practice in South Africa, Southern Africa, and internationally.

PHASA brings together:

  • Community representatives and advocates for vulnerable populations

  • Academics, researchers, and epidemiologists

  • Public health medicine specialists

  • Public sector professionals working at national, provincial, district, and local levels

  • Practitioners engaged in health promotion, policy, and systems strengthening

This diverse community enables PHASA to foster shared learning, professional development, and collective action to improve public health outcomes.

Governance

PHASA has an executive committee accountable to its members.

  • All executive members are elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for a three year term.
  • The Secretariat is contracted to the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the organization is financially audited annually.
  • The organisation and management of the organisation is outlined in our Memorandum of Incorporation (MoI)

News and Announcements

Membership and Special Interest Groups

PHASA invites new and returning members to join and update their Special Interest Group selections. Membership offers key benefits, including discounted registration for the World Congress on Public Health. SIGs provide opportunities to contribute expertise across areas such as health policy, mental health, climate and health, promotion, quality, technology, and environmental health.

18th World Congress on Public Health 2026

The 18th World Congress on Public Health convenes in Cape Town in 2026, marking its first gathering in Southern Africa. Hosted with PHASA, it will welcome over 2,000 delegates to explore global health challenges under the theme “Health without Borders,” amplifying African leadership in equity, inclusion, and sustainability.

PHASA 2022 Conference Declaration

PHASA’s 2022 conference in Durban urged government, health providers, and partners to rebuild a resilient post‑COVID health system and advance universal health coverage. Delegates highlighted deepened global inequities, the climate crisis’s threat to health, and the urgent need for affordable, quality care for all South Africans.

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