Dr Richard Friedland joined Netcare in May 1997 as the Chief Operating Officer to lead the newly listed entity’s transformation, consolidation and re-engineering of newly acquired businesses. He had previously served Medicross as the Operations Director responsible for developing the initial network of 36 clinics. Richard’s qualifications include a BVSc, MBBCh (Cum Laude), MBA and Dip Fin Man (with distinction).

In 2001, Richard was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Netcare UK. He initiated the public private partnerships with the NHS and UK Department of Health and as actively roled is developing Netores ineraline models of care, such as the nation l mobile cataract surgery group in South Africa, building five new flagship hospitals, expanding the service offering across ten unique platforms, and founding several key and unique business units, including Netcare 911, Netcare Diagnostics and NetcarePlus.

Richard is particularly passionate about digitisation, environmental sustainability and community-based projects. He initiated and implemented the Group’s strategy of person centred health and care that is digitally enabled and data driven and embarked on the continent’s most ambitious healthcare digitisation project. His passion and commitment to developing and leading Netcare’s sustainability strategy have resulted in the Group being recognised as a world leader in healthcare environmental sustainability, endorsed by over 38 local and international awards.

He has also pioneered the establishment of 39 free sexual assault clinics and the “My walk, made with soul” school shoe project that aims to provide a million South African school children with school shoes recycled from intravenous drip bags.