PathReD 2025 Kicks Off in Johannesburg: Bridging Gaps in Pathology for Health Equity
South Africa’s top gathering on pathology and diagnostics, the Pathology Research and Development Congress, or PathReD 2025, is now underway at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Gauteng. Running from 2 to 5 October 2025, this event brings together experts to tackle big challenges in healthcare, especially in places with limited resources. More than just talks and presentations, the congress stresses how good diagnostics are key to fair health for all and a big part of universal health coverage. With over 25 top speakers and a packed programme, it aims to spark new ideas and real solutions for better patient care across the country.
Hosted by the National Health Laboratory Service, this is the sixth edition of PathReD, building on past successes like the 2023 hybrid event that drew over 1,000 people. It comes at a time when South Africa faces ongoing health issues, from disease outbreaks to unequal access to tests and treatments. By focusing on research and teamwork, the congress hopes to help close these gaps and make health a right for everyone, not just a few.
Event Overview and Venue Details
PathReD 2025 is happening at the Emperors Palace Convention Centre, located at 64 Jones Road in Kempton Park, Johannesburg. This spot is easy to reach, near O.R. Tambo International Airport, making it handy for local and international guests. The congress kicked off on Thursday, 2 October, with workshops and sessions, and wraps up on Sunday with awards and closing talks.
Over four days, it unites scientists, pathologists, policymakers, innovators, and healthcare workers. They will dive into the latest in medical tech, precise testing, and ways to help both city and countryside areas. The setup includes a virtual platform too, so people can join online via vFairs or a mobile app, widening the reach. This mix of in-person and online options follows the success of earlier hybrid events, ensuring more can take part despite travel or budget limits.
Key Themes and Focus Areas
The main theme is “Enriching Health through Research”, with a special spotlight on “Bridging the Gap: Pathology in Resource-Limited Settings”. This fits the NHLS’s goal to boost health fairness, cut down on inequalities, and make sure every South African gets quick, top-notch tests. In places with few resources, like rural spots, getting the right diagnosis can be tough, leading to delays in care and worse outcomes.
Sessions will cover how to use new tech and research to improve tests and health results, even where money is tight. There are roundtables on hot topics like building a strong National Health Insurance, using AI in labs, ethics in research, and following data protection laws like POPIA. These chats aim to find practical fixes for everyday challenges in lab work and patient help.
A standout quote from the event sums it up: “Every test matters and every step counts, from laboratories to hospital wards, bringing the country one step closer to a time when health is a right rather than a privilege.” This shows the congress’s push for diagnostics as a basic part of fair healthcare.
Distinguished Speakers and Their Contributions
PathReD 2025 boasts over 25 expert speakers from South Africa and abroad. Key ones include Professor Koleka Mlisana, the NHLS CEO, who will open the event and speak on reimagining public health tests for strength, fairness, and new ideas. Swiss microbiologist Professor Adrian Egli, director at the University of Zurich’s Institute of Medical Microbiology, will give a keynote on bridging the diagnostic gap through evolutionary insights in pathology. Professor Elise Schapkaitz, NHLS Executive Manager for Academic Affairs, Research, and Quality Assurance, will talk on advancing pathology research for fair health outcomes in developing countries.
Other notable speakers are Health Minister Dr Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi on strengthening diagnostics for all towards fair universal health coverage; Professor Jeffrey Mphahlele on steering strategic leadership for diagnostic equity; Dr Yogan Pillay on bridging the healthcare funding gap; Professor Craig Househam on public and academic partnerships; Professor Wendy Stevens on rethinking cancer through host, disease, and new diagnostics; Professor Tivani Mashamba-Thompson on point-of-care testing as a game-changer; and more. These experts bring years of work in microbiology, public health, and lab medicine, sharing insights to spark change.
Programme Highlights and Activities
The programme is full of action, starting with pre-congress workshops on Thursday for hands-on learning in specific fields. Friday brings the opening plenary with keynotes, followed by discipline-specific sessions and a roundtable on resilient National Health Insurance. Saturday includes more plenaries, ethics discussions, and AI talks, ending with a gala dinner. Sunday wraps up with data ethics, closing speeches, and awards.
Interactive workshops, panel chats, and expert presentations tackle pressing issues in lab medicine and care. There is also poster viewing, quiz nights, and info forums to boost networking. Sponsors and exhibitors, like the Public Health Bulletin South Africa with their stall for insights and prizes, add to the buzz. The event empowers researchers to use tech and studies for better diagnostics in tough settings.
NHLS’s Commitment to Excellence
As the host, the NHLS shows its drive to be a top centre in lab and clinical medicine. Their mission focuses on patient-centred services through new ideas, teamwork, and fairness. PathReD 2025 lets the NHLS highlight work in health equity, cutting gaps, and giving all South Africans access to good tests.
Professor Koleka Mlisana, in her welcome, stresses the NHLS’s role in leading quality services through innovation and public health focus. By hosting this, they push for a future where diagnostics help everyone, no matter where they live.
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