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Latest News: South Africa

The story of Alignd

Aligned-Team

Reimagining Palliative Care: A Journey of Compassion, Innovation, and Systemic Change When we first set out to transform the palliative care landscape in South Africa, we knew we were stepping into a space that demanded more than just medical intervention. We were answering a calling to create a healthcare approach that truly honours the dignity of patients and families navigating life’s most challenging moments. Our journey began with a simple yet profound recognition: the current healthcare system was failing those who needed compassionate support the most. Patients were often left frustrated, underserved, and carrying enormous financial and emotion burdens. Healthcare providers were constrained by systems that didn’t allow them to provide the holistic care they knew was possible. And schemes were spending over R20B in end-of-life care. Today, we are proud to share that Alignd has become a catalyst for change, extending palliative care services to over 3 million medical scheme beneficiaries and walking alongside more than 4,000 families during critical times in their lives. But our story is about much more than numbers. At the heart of our approach is what we call a “win-win-win” model. This means designing solutions that simultaneously serve patients, healthcare providers, funders, and the broader healthcare ecosystem. We have created a network of over 300 providers who are empowered to deliver personalised, home-based care that goes beyond traditional medical treatment. The role of hospices has been pivotal, and it has been exciting to work alongside hospices as they adopt new funding models that include the private sector. Our innovative approach has yielded remarkable outcomes Approximately two-thirds of our patients pass away peacefully in the company of loved ones, either at home or in hospice. We have significantly reduced non-beneficial medical interventions in end-of-life patients, with chemotherapy treatments and major surgeries in the final month of a patient’s life reduced by around a third. Perhaps more importantly, we have achieved a 90% recommendation rate from the families we’ve supported – a testament to the human-centered care we provide. But how do we measure success? Alignd has developed a sophisticated performance framework that goes beyond traditional healthcare metrics. Our patient-centred scorecard, focuses on three critical areas: desired patient care outcomes, cost savings, and process smoothness. Each metric is meticulously analysed, with our calculations audited by external actuarial teams to ensure transparency and genuine value. What sets us apart is our commitment to coherence Not just in our business practices, but in our entire approach to healthcare. We recognise that true collaboration requires personal work, challenging internalised hierarchies of various kinds, and continuously evolving our understanding of care. Our team embodies this philosophy. We have grown from two people around a whiteboard to a passionate trans-disciplinary team of 40, united by a shared vision of transforming healthcare. Each team member brings not just professional expertise, but a deeply personal commitment to our mission and values. The concept of “Yugma” – a Sanskrit word meaning unified collaboration – remains central to our ethos. It represents our belief that meaningful change happens when diverse parts of a system work together, aligned towards a common purpose. We are particularly proud of our work in extending personalised care to remote areas, developed in deep collaboration with PALPRAC. This approach has allowed us to reach patients who might otherwise have been overlooked, ensuring that quality palliative care is not a privilege, but a right. The role of hospices has been integral to this remote care. As we look to the future Our vision remains clear: to continue building a compassionate healthcare system that is both sustainable and deeply human. We are not just providing a service; we are creating a new way of thinking about care, about support, and about human dignity, not only in palliative care, but in other complex problems we may tackle. To our patients, their families, our incredible network of providers, and our partners, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your trust, your stories, and your resilience continue to inspire and guide us. The journey of Alignd is far from over. In fact, we believe we’re just getting started. If you are: a patient of family member and would like to find out more about what we do and how Alignd can work for you; interested in becoming a network practitioner partner with Alignd; a healthcare funder, looking to find out how to contract with us; we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to us at info@alignd.co.za.  You can also give us a call on (+27) 87 550 3399. Visit the Alignd website to learn more at www.alignd.co.za

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