SAMED

What SAMED does

SAMED (South African Medical Technology Industry Association) is a not-for-profit industry association founded in 1985 and headquartered in Randburg, South Africa. It represents over 170 medical device manufacturers, distributors, and in-vitro diagnostics suppliers operating in the South African market, serving as the collective, objective voice of the MedTech sector with government, regulators (primarily SAHPRA), the dtic, the National Department of Health, and broader healthcare stakeholders. The association advocates on regulatory, market access, procurement, transformation, and payment-terms issues, and engages at the highest levels of government on matters including National Health Insurance policy and the more than R1 billion in overdue public-sector debt owed to roughly 40 of its members.

SAMED's core offerings are non-commercial industry infrastructure rather than technology products: the "Data with Integrity" portal for member-reported industry data, the self-regulatory Medical Device Code of Ethical Marketing and Business Practice (updated in 2024 with 37 provisions), the Women Empowerment Index developed with Deloitte, and the SAMED x YES Youth Portal for medtech recruitment. It also runs an annual conference, CEO Pulse Forum, Market Access Forums, and committee structures that connect members to government funding vehicles (IDC, sefa, NEF), training bodies (CHIETA), international peers (AdvaMed, Medtech Europe, GMTA), and innovation infrastructure (MeDDIC, CSIR). The association operates with a lean staff of 1-10 employees and is funded through membership fees, with a board and committees drawn from member company representatives.

Business model: membership-fee-based non-profit with diversified revenue from member dues, certification (Code), events (annual conference, forums), and benchmarking services (WEI). Go-to-market is direct B2B membership sales targeting MedTech companies selling into South Africa's R21 billion (2021) MedTech market, projected to reach R29.6 billion by 2025. The primary customer segment is enterprise MedTech and IVD companies operating in South Africa, with secondary relationships to healthcare providers and government health departments as the entities SAMED lobbies on behalf of its members.

Name

SAMED

Legal name

South African Medical Technology Industry Association

Website

https://samed.org.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SAMED is a South African not-for-profit industry association, founded in 1985, that represents over 170 medical technology and IVD companies in collective advocacy with government, SAHPRA, and healthcare stakeholders on regulation, market access, and transformation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Randburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SAMED is a not-for-gain industry association that provides collective representation, regulatory advocacy, ethical compliance frameworks, industry data collection, market access support, and transformation initiatives for over 170 medical technology and in-vitro diagnostics companies operating in South Africa. Its core offerings include the Data with Integrity portal, the Medical Device Code of Ethical Marketing and Business Practice, the Women Empowerment Index benchmarking tool, and the SAMED x YES Youth Portal.

Product overview

SAMED (South African Medical Technology Industry Association) is a not-for-profit industry association founded in 1985 that represents the medical technology and in-vitro diagnostics industry in South Africa. Rather than offering a traditional product platform, SAMED provides industry association services including the Data with Integrity data collection portal, the Medical Device Code of Ethical Marketing and Business Practice compliance framework, the Women Empowerment Index (WEI) benchmarking tool for tracking gender diversity metrics, and the SAMED x YES Youth Portal for connecting companies with experienced young professionals. These offerings are complemented by SMME support resources, regulatory guidance through SAHPRA partnerships, market access support, and procurement policy advocacy. SAMED serves as a collective platform for engagement with government, regulators, and healthcare stakeholders to advance an ethical, sustainable, and transformed medtech sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Data with Integrity Portal A data collection platform for SAMED members to submit industry data including outstanding public sector debt, regulatory landscape, employment statistics, manufacture capabilities, and import/export data to inform submissions and industry reporting.
• Medical Device Code of Ethical Marketing and Business Practice A self-regulatory code governing ethical marketing and business practices for medtech companies in South Africa, updated in 2024 with 37 provisions covering hospitality, travel, and company-organised educational events.
• SAMED Women Empowerment Index (WEI) A benchmarking tool developed in collaboration with Deloitte to monitor and track women's employment rates, remuneration levels, female representation in leadership, women's ownership, and development opportunities in medtech companies.
• SAMED x YES Youth Portal An online platform connecting medtech companies with young professionals who have gained experience in the industry through the YES partnership, enabling companies to fill positions with qualified youth.
• SMME & Local Manufacture Support Resources

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• YES (Youth Employment Service)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2024SAMED and YES embarked on a partnership to unlock thousands of work opportunities for South African youth while transforming the country's medtech and healthcare sectors. Through this partnership, 41 SAMED member companies have created more than 2,700 youth jobs (64% female youth employees). The SAMED x YES Youth Portal connects medtech companies with talented young professionals who have already gained experience in the industry.
• DeloittecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2024Deloitte collaborated with SAMED to develop the Women Empowerment Index (WEI), a benchmarking tool designed to monitor and encourage progress made towards greater economic inclusion and empowerment of women in the medtech industry. The WEI establishes baseline scores and tracks metrics over time including women's employment rates, remuneration levels, female representation in leadership, women's ownership, and development opportunities.
• Department of HealthcoreOthersSAMED engages regularly with the Department of Health on regulatory matters, public sector payment issues, NHI policy, procurement guidelines, and health technology assessment frameworks. SAMED has had engagements at the highest levels including the President, Minister, Deputy Minister and Director-General of Health.
• Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic)coreOthersSAMED collaborates with the dtic on the MEDTECH Master Plan, localization initiatives, trade agreements, and industrial development policies. SAMED participated in the dtic's Health Products Master Plan development and contributes to identifying medtech-related challenges and opportunities.
• SAHPRA (South African Health Products Regulatory Authority)coreOthersSAHPRA is the regulatory authority for health products in South Africa. SAMED works closely with SAHPRA on medical device regulations, establishment licensing, product registration fees, ISO 13485 requirements, and vigilance frameworks. SAMED participates in the Medical Device Regulatory Committee (MDRC) and Industry Technical Group (ITG).
• MeDDIC (Medical Device and Diagnostic Innovation Cluster)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeDDIC is a national initiative to exploit skills, expertise, infrastructure and companies across South Africa within medical devices. SAMED serves on the steerco of MeDDIC. Programs include localisation and rapid product development, human capital development, regulatory compliance support, and seed funding for innovation and localization.
• Seda (Small Enterprise Development Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeda promotes entrepreneurship and develops small enterprises by providing customised non-financial business support services. Their programs include incubation, enterprise development, technology transfer, and training courses for small business owners.
• sefa (Small Enterprise Finance Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development Partnersefa provides financial products and services to qualifying small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and co-operatives, including direct lending and wholesale lending products.
• IDC (Industrial Development Corporation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDC is a national development finance institution promoting economic growth and industrial development. Their Chemicals, Medical and Industrial Mineral Products unit provides loan- and equity-based financial assistance to new and existing businesses in the medtech sector.
• National Empowerment Fund (NEF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEF supports Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment through funding and investment. Products include Women Empowerment Fund, iMbewu Fund for black entrepreneurs, uMnotho Fund, and Strategic Project Fund covering manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.
• OR Tambo Special Economic Zone (SEZ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOR Tambo SEZ is attracting investments and nurturing local talent in various sectors. Precinct 2 aims to attract investments in pharmaceuticals, MedTech, mineral beneficiaries, electronics, and other health products, utilizing its strategic location near OR Tambo International Airport.
• CHIETA (Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMED is developing a health product regulatory qualification course framework with CHIETA to build capacity in regulatory affairs within the medtech sector.
• dtic (Department of Trade, Industry and Competition)coreOthersThe dtic provides various incentives and support programs for industrial development including 12I Tax Allowance Incentive, Black Industrialists Scheme, Capital Projects Feasibility Programme, Critical Infrastructure Programme, Export Marketing & Investment Assistance, Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme, Support Programme for Industrial Innovation, and Sector Specific Assistance Scheme.
• Invest SAminorOthersInvest SA facilitates investment and reduces time-to-market by providing business critical information, specialized assistance, and connecting investors to local partners and stakeholders. The medical device sector is identified as a priority sector for the South African government.
• GGDA (Gauteng Growth and Development Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGDA creates an inclusive and transformed Gauteng economy focused on job creation, skills development, and strategic economic infrastructure. Opportunities include medical manufacturing cluster development.
• National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYDA addresses youth development challenges through grant programmes, market linkages, and business development support for young entrepreneurs.
• WECONA (Women Economic Assembly)minorOthersSAMED has committed to WECONA since its inauguration in 2022. Futhi Mtoba serves as Co-Chairperson of WECONA and participated in the WEI launch event.
• USTDA (United States Trade and Development Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMED Executive Officer Tanya Vogt attended the USTDA workshop on Regulatory Convergence for Healthcare Products in Southern Africa. The workshop covered medical device and medicines regulatory frameworks, reliance models, impact assessments, and industry perspectives.
• BUSA (Business Unity South Africa)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSAMED participates in BUSA Committees on Economic & Trade Policy (energy, tax, transport, trade, logistics, ESG) and Social Policy (education, training, health including NHI and transformation). SAMED leveraged BUSA's contacts to meet with President, Deputy President and Minister of International Relations.
• AMCHAM (American Chamber of Commerce South Africa)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSAMED leveraged AMCHAM contacts to engage at the highest levels on business and trade-related concerns.
• GMTA (Global Medical Technology Alliance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMED engages with international trade associations including GMTA to share and learn best practice, advance regulatory harmonisation, and stay on top of international trends.
• Medtech EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMED engages with Medtech Europe to share and learn best practice and align with international standards. Medtech Europe's CVS (Conference Verification System) was discussed for South African medtech conferences.
• Advamed (AdvaMed)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMED engages with Advamed to share and learn best practice, advance regulatory harmonisation, and stay on top of international trends.
• MecomedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMED engages with Mecomed to share and learn best practice, advance regulatory harmonisation, and stay on top of international trends.
• GHWP (Global Health Workforce Programme)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMED engages with GHWP to share and learn best practice, advance regulatory harmonisation, and stay on top of international trends.
• CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research)minorOthersSAMED serves on the CSIR local manufacture panel. SAMED leaders attended the CEO Pulse forum with CSIR representatives to discuss sector challenges and opportunities.
• Discovery HealthminorOthersSAMED addresses medtech sector concerns including trade barriers and reimbursement matters with Discovery Health. SAMED Board committed to strengthening working relationship with Discovery and was meeting with Discovery Health leadership to discuss industry concerns about price negotiations.
• Skills VillageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMED participates in Skills Village capacity building hubs that lead to income-generating activity for youth, women and persons with disabilities, building a talent pipeline for the medtech sector.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AdvaMed: The Advanced Medical Technology Association is the leading US medtech trade association, serving as SAMED's most influential international counterpart and direct functional peer in regulatory advocacy, ethical codes, and government engagement.
• Medtech Europe: The European medical technology industry association is SAMED's primary European counterpart, with a near-identical mandate spanning regulatory affairs, ethical marketing codes (similar to SAMED's Medical Device Code), market access, and member value programmes.
• Mecomed: The medical devices and diagnostics industry trade association for the Middle East and North Africa. Mecomed is the closest regional peer to SAMED in geography and emerging-market medtech structure, and SAMED explicitly engages with Mecomed for best-practice sharing.
• APACMed: The Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association serves a comparable function to SAMED across multiple Asia-Pacific jurisdictions, providing an analogous model for code development, regulatory engagement, and value-based care advocacy.
• Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA): Australia's national medtech industry association represents medical device manufacturers and suppliers with an analogous structure to SAMED, including an industry code of practice and regulatory engagement with the TGA.
• ABHI (Association of British HealthTech Industries): The UK HealthTech industry association operates with a similar mandate to SAMED in representing medical technology manufacturers and suppliers, engaging MHRA on regulatory matters and advocating on NHS procurement.

Others

• Global Medical Technology Alliance (GMTA): GMTA is a global coalition of national medtech associations in which SAMED participates. Rather than competing, GMTA is an ecosystem enabler that convenes SAMED with peers like AdvaMed, Medtech Europe, and Mecomed to advance regulatory harmonisation.

Regional players

• JFMDA (Japan Federation of Medical Devices Associations): Japan's national federation of medical devices associations represents a similar industry-association function for Japanese medtech manufacturers and is referenced through international best-practice sharing networks SAMED engages with.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/samed-south-african-medical-technology-industry-association
• Xx.com/samed_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SAMED