Da Costa replaces Dr Nkaki Matlala after he completed a four year tenure as steward of the organisation.
Da Costa started her career as a stockbroker health analyst in 1994 and spent over 10 years in investment finance, with a specific focus on healthcare. She later managed a global unit trust dedicated to investments in health and technology companies across the world. Da Costa went on to become the Head of Research for HSBC's South African stockbroking office.
She joined Netcare in 2006 and is a Director of Netcare Management Limited and Netcare's UK business, General Healthcare Group. She has a Masters degree in commerce and is an accredited Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
"I look forward to working with the HASA board to provide stewardship on the complex topic of health reform to our private hospital group members," says Da Costa. "Private hospitals play a valuable role in our society and we want to earnestly engage government on ways of leveraging the existing health system to enhance the delivery of quality healthcare to more South Africans.
"There is significant common ground between the public and private healthcare sectors with daily collaborations at the cold face of health delivery. We need to leverage each other's experience, skills and resources in the interest of improving health access and standards in our country."
With Da Costa as chairperson, the current HASA board comprises: Tienie van den Berg (Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital); Jacques du Plessis (Netcare); Biren Valodia (Mediclinic); Nkaki Matlala (Mediclinic); Sharon Vasuthevan (Life Healthcare); Lourens Bekker (Life Healthcare); Otto Wypkema (Arwyp Medical Centre) and Ridwaan Allie (Melomed Hospital Holdings).
