By the SayPro Chief Research Officer – Patricia Tsebe
Esteemed Guests, Healthcare Leaders, Partners, Community Members, Colleagues, and Friends,
Good morning and thank you for joining us on this important occasion — SayPro’s 2025 National Healthcare Decisions Day.
As the Chief Research Officer of SayPro, I stand here with a deep sense of responsibility and purpose. Today is not just about awareness — it is about evidence, ethics, and empowerment. It is about understanding the role that informed healthcare decisions play in saving lives, shaping systems, and strengthening communities.
Healthcare decisions are some of the most personal and impactful choices we make — yet for many, they are clouded by uncertainty, misinformation, or lack of access to reliable data. This is where research becomes not just useful — but essential.
At SayPro, we believe that sound decisions require sound information. That is why our research efforts in 2025 have focused on:
- Collecting and analysing community health data to identify gaps in knowledge and care
- Studying patient behaviours and cultural attitudes around advance care planning
- Evaluating the effectiveness of health education campaigns across different demographics
- And developing user-friendly tools and materials that help people make informed, values-based choices about their health
We do this not to sit on shelves or fill reports, but to translate research into action, and action into better health outcomes for everyone — regardless of income, education, or geography.
This year, our findings have shown a significant increase in people seeking clarity on their healthcare rights, asking about living wills, and participating in end-of-life care planning workshops. That is not just progress — it’s transformation.
But we are not there yet.
Too many still do not know their options. Too many fear the systems meant to help them. And too many are left out of the decision-making process because their voices are not being heard or studied.
That is why SayPro’s research division remains committed to community-led inquiry, inclusive data collection, and evidence-based advocacy. We work hand-in-hand with healthcare providers, civil society, universities, and our own communities to ensure our work reflects real experiences and real needs.
Let today be a call to action — not only to make our own healthcare decisions, but to demand a system that supports everyone in doing the same.
Let us invest in research that informs.
Let us support systems that protect.
And let us build a future where every healthcare decision is made with dignity, knowledge, and care.
Happy National Healthcare Decisions Day 2025.
Let research guide us. Let compassion unite us. Let informed choices empower us.
Thank you.
Let’s keep learning. Let’s keep deciding — wisely and together.
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