Dr. Nomfundo Nhlapo
Dr. Nomfundo Nhlapo is a deeply committed healthcare leader whose career bridges the worlds of medicine, business, and social impact. With over two decades of experience, she has dedicated herself to advancing equitable, accessible healthcare solutions for underserved communities across Southern Africa.
A qualified medical doctor (MBChB, University of Natal) with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Milpark Business School, Dr Nhlapo is the founder of iHealth Clinics, a community-centered primary healthcare model that uses telemedicine, lean operations, and digital innovation to deliver affordable care to those who need it most. Through her second venture, Classic Health Consulting, she provides strategic advisory services, training, and health systems design support to governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international partners.
Dr Nhlapo has led high-impact research including Johannesburg’s Hepatitis C self-testing and treatment study for people who inject drugs. She presented the outcomes at international conferences in Portugal and Greece. She has co-developed national HIV and Hepatitis C treatment guidelines and training curricula in collaboration with the National Department of Health, the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (WRHI), and the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA). She also serves as a Master Trainer for multiple national programs, equipping healthcare workers through the rollout of Nurse-Initiated Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (NIMART), Pharmacist-Initiated Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (PIMART), and Dolutegravir (DTG) implementation strategies.
Her leadership extends to national health policy and governance. She serves on the Gauteng Health Task Team under the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Health, is Deputy Chairperson of the General Practitioners Private Practice Committee (GPPPC) of the South African Medical Association (SAMA), and is a member of the Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB) Review Committee under the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS). Whether working in clinical settings or on policy platforms, Dr Nhlapo is known for her humility, strategic clarity, and deep commitment to service. Her advocacy has been featured on national platforms including SABC Morning Live, SABC 1’s Daily Thetha, and various HIV awareness campaigns. Guided by purpose, she continues to mentor the next generation of healthcarepreneurs and champions a vision of healthcare that is community-driven, evidence-based, and grounded in dignity for all.