Professor Tahir Pillay, who heads the Department of Chemical Pathology at the University of Pretoria, has been appointed to the board of the South African Medical Research Council (MRC).  

“I am honoured to have been appointed by the Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, to be part of the MRC Board. For me, it is a great opportunity to be part of an effort to shape the medical research landscape over the next three years,” commented Prof Pillay.

The Council’s mandate is to improve the nation's health and quality of life through promoting and conducting relevant and responsive health research. Prof Pillay is hopeful that he will contribute meaningfully towards the MRC’s growth and its contribution towards a healthy nation through research, innovation and transformation.

As a board member, he will contribute towards overseeing the governance of the MRC and ensure its adherence to the strategic plan for achieving its vision and mission of advancing the nation’s health and quality of life and addressing inequity by conducting and funding relevant and responsive health research.

He added, “The Medical Research Council is an important stakeholder in medical research funding in the country as it plays a pivotal role in health care research and influences public health through its funding mechanisms.”   

A B-rated scientist, Prof Pillay also revealed that he has been appointed to sit on the international technical panel convened by the World Health Organization (WHO), tasked with developing international specifications for manufacturers to follow when validating devices that are manufactured for glucose and haemoglobin HbA1c testing. Once done, the panel will produce an international standardised assessment format to be used in new devices for glucose and HbA1c testing.

“To date, there has been no standardised assessment for blood glucose meters and strips and HbA1c POC in vitro diagnostic devices (IVDs) in WHO. The regulation of the IVDs varies between jurisdictions,” said Prof Pillay.

“Prior to opening the prequalification assessment pathway to manufacturers of these IVDs, WHO prequalification will develop and publish technical specifications (TSS) which outline the performance studies that manufacturers are required to conduct to validate the respective IVD.”

The panel follows the WHO’s five-year plan to improve the quality and safety of health products by improving the screening, early detection and appropriate treatment of non-communicable diseases like diabetes.