The Specialist Family Physicians in Private forum represents the collaboration between SAAFP (South African Academy of Family Physicians) and SASOSFP (South African Society of Specialist Family Physicians). The joint partnership was formalized by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2023 to work together on private sector challenges. It aims to champion and clarify SFP’s contribution to the private sector and advocates for recognition, remuneration, and specialist privileges appropriate to this consulting discipline. Since October 2023, SFPP have contracted healthcare management and consulting firm, Healthman, to facilitate our engagement with funders to address the discrepancies in specialist recognition and remuneration currently being faced by SFP’s.
The joint Exco committee representing SFPP are:
- Dr Sheena Mathew (SAAFP Director) (Chairperson of SFPP) – Western Cape
- Dr Shola Irinoye (SASOSFP Chair) – Gauteng
- Dr Gail Ashford (SASOSFP Deputy-Chair) – Gauteng
- Dr Gareth Fray (SAAFP Council member) – Eastern Cape
Please feel free to get in touch with any of the Exco members or our administrator should you wish to become a member. Be part of the change and play your part in creating a more patient centric private sector landscape where SFP’s can provide specialist care that is both preventative and therapeutic.
Our contact details:
SAAFP administrator (Lucille): admin@saafp.org Tel: 060 4088 569
Dr Sheena Mathew: dr@bloubergfp.co.za
Dr Shola Irinoye: woodhillic@gmail.com
Dr Gail Ashford: ashfordg@gmail.com
Dr Gareth Fray: garethfray@gmail.com
Position Statement
- Position Statement: Specialist Family Physicians in Private Sector Healthcare in South Africa
Meet the team
Dr Sheena Mathew
Dr Sheena Mathew is a Specialist Family Physician practicing in Blouberg, Cape Town. She is also an SAAFP Exco Director and Chairperson of SFPP (Specialist Family Physicians in Private) representing the interests of SFPs in private. Her role as honorary senior lecturer at UCT Department of Family Medicine also reflects her academic interests and passion for teaching. She enjoys being able to offer specialist services from her practice that is based within the community, with a special interest in women’s health, mental health services and lifestyle diseases.
Dr Olusola (Shola) Irinoye
Dr Olusola (Shola) Irinoye qualified with MBChB degree from University of Jos, Nigeria in 1989, MCFP(SA) in 1999, MMed-Family Medicine (Pret) in 2004 and FCFP(SA) was awarded in 2006. He is registered as a specialist Family Physician and has been in specialist Family Medicine practice since 2004. Dr Irinoye practices from Pretoria. Dr Irinoye has vast experience/interest in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Internal Medicine, as well as the surgical specialties. Dr Irinoye has admitting rights in Mediclinic hospital group and Louis Pasteur private hospital, where he admits and treats patients. Dr Irinoye is the current Chairman of the South African Society of Specialist Family Physicians (SASOSFP) and an EXCO member of Specialist Family Physicians in Private (SFPP), a unity body formed to represent the interests of Specialist Family Physicians in private practice in South Africa
Dr Gareth Fray
Gareth served as an Executive Member of The South African Academy of Family Physicians from 2017 to 2019 and
was part of the task team for Private Family Physicians during the same period. Outside of medicine, Gareth chaired the East London Tennis Association from 2011 to 2015 and represented South African Masters in tennis Internationally on multiple occasions. He’s currently involved in the restructuring of Tennis Eastern Cape and engages in ward activities in his church.
Gareth’s future plans include pursuing a PhD in Family Medicine within the next 2-3 years. He’s passionate about transforming the healthcare system for the betterment of patients and healthcare professionals, emphasizing respect, quality, and access to healthcare. He is extremely passionate about the marginalized community he serves and advocates for them vigorously.
Dr Gail Ashford
Dr Gail Ashford is a Specialist Family Physician with a particular interest in HIV and chronic conditions (like diabetes and autoimmune conditions), care of pregnant women with HIV and their children. She has treated both Adults and children with HIV since 2003. She currently runs a private practice at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre with a multidisciplinary team, including inpatient and outpatient care. She has provided expertise at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital Obstetric ARV Clinic since its opening in 2004 and provides high level care to women with complicated pregnancies and advanced HIV or virological failure. She has developed a career in Family HIV care and has particular interests in Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT), safe conception and nutrition and metabolic complications of HAART.
Specialist Family Physicians in Private membership form
SAAFP Private Physicians Registration form
Please complete this form in order to stay updated and register to become part of the forum.
SFPP Debit order form
SFPP debit order form
Please complete this form in order to stay updated and register to become part of the forum.
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