South African GASTROENTEROLOGY Review | Volume 17 Issue 3 2019

THE SOUTH AFRICAN GASTROENTEROLOGY REVIEW 2019 | ISSUE 3 | 1 EDITORIAL Introducing SAGES Council 2019 - 2021 Editorial As incoming president of SAGES it is with great pleasure I would like to welcome and thank all members that have been appointed onto SAGES Council. It is with immense pleasure I thank Prof Keith Newton who has served the council for a long time and his wisdom and patience will surely be missed. The aim of my presidency is for SAGES to become more active in dealing and educating our members regarding NHI. Where do we fit in? already a number of communications have occurred regarding standard of care and would hope to improve standards of care guidelines across all indications and or diseases in gastroenterology and hepatology. There will be an increase output of guidelines relevant to our country’s needs and hopefully this will be applicable to both state and private sectors. I am also of firm belief that like the commission on private health care we need to address the issues of co payment for endoscopies and this process has and is undermining our members rights to offer best standard of care. I would also like to congratulate Prof Mark Sonderup who will be responsible for the first edition SAGES journal in 2020. He brings a strong background from a hepatology perspective. Dr Stephen Grobler is still actively engaging medical aids about coding and this is an ongoing challenge. With Gastro Foundation actively involved with educational activities it gives me great pleasure to thank Prof Kassianides and his Trustees that each year the academic program is enhanced with new high quality meetings being organized and the Gastro Foundations impact is now extending to Southern Africa. This edition sees Dr Ostrofsky discuss auto immune pancreatitis and the challenges that this disease process can present but a practical approach is outlined in his article. The kidneys from a liver perspective was always taught to be an innocent bystander and when the liver issue is addressed the kidney issue will resolve but Dr Diana highlights the latest trends and changes in the definitions of kidney disease in the context of liver disease. Prof Mulder’s article on nursing endoscopy will surely raise some challenges to the norm but it does start a discussion on resources and manpower in a South African context. If we are to follow the standard of care we will need to start implementing a colon cancer screening program in South Africa but our current shortage of trained endoscopists will hamper this goal. Is the suggestion by Prof Mulder and his co authors a possible solution? Adam Mahomed Editor Past President Jan van Zyl President Adam Mahomed President Elect Gill Watermeyer Secretary Ernst Fredericks Treasurer VG Naidoo Council members Bilal Bobat Shiraaz Gabriel Eduard Jonas Neo Seabi Mark Sonderup Private Practice Stephen Grobler Gastro Foundation Chris Kassianides HOD ex officio Eduard Jonas