Sagie Pillay

Sagie Pillay (DN Pillay) is a seasoned healthcare executive with extensive experience in hospital and laboratory leadership across South Africa and internationally. He currently serves as acting Chief Operating Officer at the Wits Health Consortium, a key entity supporting research and donor-funded activities at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Previously, Mr  Pillay held the role of CEO of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), where he oversaw the largest diagnostic pathology service in South Africa, serving over 80% of the population through a network of 349 laboratories. Under his leadership, NHLS launched the world’s largest HIV and TB testing programme, introduced cost-effective CD4 testing, and rolled out the GeneXpert diagnostic platform nationwide.

Mr. Pillay holds a MBA from the University of Liverpool and a Master’s in Health Management, Policy and Planning, and Health Economics from the University of Leeds. He has also served as Executive Director of the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) and co-chaired the ASLM2014 conference, promoting innovation and collaboration in African laboratory medicine.

His career reflects a deep commitment to strengthening public health systems, advancing diagnostic services, and driving strategic healthcare reform across the continent.