Netcare has applied to the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) for approval to introduce an artificial intelligence (AI) system designed to identify early signs of serious medical deterioration in hospital patients.
The technology, developed in partnership with German clinical AI company Telehealth Competence Centre (TCC) Clinical Solutions, uses machine learning to analyse real-time patient data, including heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and respiratory rate.
By continuously monitoring this information through Netcare’s digital health platform, the system aims to detect warning signs of potentially life-threatening conditions before they become clinically apparent, allowing doctors to intervene sooner.
The AI model builds on the quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score, a widely used tool in intensive care that helps identify patients at risk of severe complications such as sepsis, respiratory failure, heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias.
The technology has undergone clinical testing through a collaboration involving Netcare, TCC, the University of KwaZulu-Natal and DigitalOn Tech, although detailed study results have not yet been made public.
AI in Healthcare Faces Regulatory Review
The application comes as SAHPRA continues implementing its regulatory framework for AI-powered medical devices.
Introduced in 2025, the guidelines require AI systems used in healthcare to undergo regulatory approval before being deployed in South Africa. Developers must also provide evidence of clinical performance, cybersecurity measures and compliance with international quality standards.
If approved, Netcare plans to distribute the technology across its hospital network, expanding the use of AI-assisted clinical monitoring in critical care environments.
More AI Tools Planned
Netcare and TCC are already developing additional AI models aimed at predicting kidney failure, respiratory complications requiring ventilation and the likelihood of patients being readmitted to intensive care after discharge.
Netcare Group Medical Director Dr Anchen Laubscher said artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important tool in modern healthcare, providing doctors with additional clinical insights that support earlier intervention and better patient outcomes.
The company has not indicated when SAHPRA is expected to make a decision on the application, but approval would mark another step in the growing adoption of AI technologies within South Africa’s healthcare sector.
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