Dr Shisana is currently the Social Policy Special Advisor to the President of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, which includes advice on National Health Insurance and health systems strengthening.
She served as chair of the Ministerial Advisory on the National Health Insurance Committee for five years. Subsequently, she supported the Ministry of Health in developing the National Health Insurance legislation, plan, and funding strategies, service provision, and concomitant quality improvement of the health system.
She served for two years as a technical co-chair of the global ACT-A, which aims to ensure the rapid development, scale-up and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, supported by the relevant strengthening of health systems. She often represents South Africa in the G20 Finance and Health Taskforce deliberations relating to pandemic preparedness and response. She is now co-chairs with Norway the “Johannesburg Process”- a multi-stakeholder consultative group comprising representatives of the AU, AU Covid-19 Commission, EU, G7, US Global Action (now ended), former ACT-A reference group of countries, Coordination with World Health Organization and Civil Society to discuss medical countermeasures.
She graduated with a Doctor of Science degree from Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health. She was the first director-general of health in South Africa. Then served as CEO of the Human Sciences Research Council. She is a recipient of the South African Academy of Sciences, Science-for-Society Gold Medal in 2013. She was awarded the highest national order of the South African Order of Baobab in Bronze offered by the President: "For her outstanding contribution to the field of science and community service, particularly her tireless work in researching solutions to the scourges of HIV and AIDS."
