The Global Citizenship conversation - the vaccine story - how does the Global South develop its own solutions?

That started to change with the introduction of vaccines and access to vaccines.  The Global South rapidly re-found its place at the bottom of an unequal race for protection. This highlighted Africa’s dependence on the Global North for access to vaccines and pharmaceutical solutions, from cancer to most infectious diseases.

It is this aspect of public health challenges and the question of advanced healthcare in Africa which Professor Soon-Shiong seeks to bring his global perspective to, and to shine the light of his considerable acumen, insight, and successes. 

Patrick Soon-Shiong is a South African born physician, surgeon, philanthropist, scientist, inventor and businessman.  He has devoted his career to understanding the fundamental biology driving life-threatening diseases and translating these insights into medical innovations with global impact. He serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NantWorks, a multi-national conglomerate, with deep understandings in a wide variety of complex industries, from medical science to physics, from data to artificial intelligence and from communications to mobility.

Professor Francis Petersen, Vice Chancellor of University of the Free State, South Africa, in partnership with SACC, is delighted and honoured to have Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong as his guest for the next ‘Global Citizen’ conversation. It is an opportunity to learn from and discuss Dr Soon-Shiong’s views on how Africa can build its own capacity and infrastructure in the field of medicine and medical entrepreneurship. How Africa can move from being a consumer to a global producer of medical solutions.

A world where everyone is safe from disease is a world where everyone has access to medical technology and vaccines.  How Africa can go about doing that will be crucial to the future of all our lives and livelihoods, and shape how we respond with global agility and justice to the current challenges of cancer, infectious diseases, and future pandemics.

Watch the replay below: