A health-tech platform in South Africa is quickly gaining prominence by aiding surgeons in connecting with verified surgical assistants in real-time. This groundbreaking solution not only addresses operational challenges in the operating room but also paves the way for new possibilities within a healthcare system under increasing strain.
Co-founded by Dr. Le Roux Viljoen and AD Schoeman, The Surgical Assistant (TSA) was developed in response to concerns about the growing disparity between surgical demand and the availability of qualified assistants.
Viljoen notes that the initiative emerged not from personal frustrations in the operating room but from a desire to tackle a significant issue within the healthcare sector.
“The idea struck us one Saturday afternoon while enjoying a beer by the fire, eagerly waiting for the Springboks match to start at 17h00,” he shared on Moneyweb’s Mzansi Business Podcast.
“A surgeon called me at 16h45, asking if I could provide assistance for a woman who had suffered a broken hip and required a replacement.”
Viljoen successfully dispatched a friend to lend a hand.
“The surgeon was satisfied, the patient had a positive outcome, and the assistant made it into the theatre without a hitch. That’s when I realized we needed a system that streamlines the process of getting an assistant into the theatre so effortlessly. And that’s how it all began.”
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What began with informal spreadsheets and WhatsApp groups has evolved into a national digital platform that connects surgeons with vetted medical officers, general practitioners, and assistants throughout South Africa.
Currently, TSA has onboarded over 2,000 assistants and more than 150 surgeons, enabling thousands of assisted procedures across the nation.
The platform improves theatre coordination, availability tracking, scheduling, vetting, and payment management, resulting in reduced delays, enhanced surgical continuity, and less pressure on surgical teams.
“Our ultimate ambition is to have every assistant participating in one theatre slate each week, totaling four slates monthly,” says Viljoen.
“We are still in the process of expanding our operations and bringing on more surgeons, but we envision a fully integrated partnership with these medical professionals.”
Ecosystem
Beyond the staffing platform, TSA has broadened its scope to include TSA Academy—a certified training initiative aimed at enhancing the skills of assistants and junior doctors—along with a non-profit effort that enables unemployed doctors to gain clinical experience in the public sector.
Schoeman highlights the goal of creating an ecosystem where assistants or unemployed doctors can step in and thrive both personally and professionally.
“We offer academic opportunities, including CPD [continuing professional development] courses to stay current with the latest advancements, as well as practical training—hands-on experience in theatres, working with cadavers, robotics training, and laparoscopic techniques.”
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The company’s growth trajectory goes beyond the private sector, according to Schoeman.
“We have engaged with the private sector, where funding is accessible, to unlock that potential—but ultimately, from a perspective of impact, it’s the state that matters.”
“The bigger issue is the state being under-resourced, both financially and otherwise, and we’re leveraging the efficiencies of the private sector to help these young doctors earn a living.”
As TSA expands nationally, the organization is positioning itself not merely as a staffing platform but as an operational framework for surgical healthcare—formalizing the systems, trust, and coordination that surgical environments rely on daily.
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