It is with a deep sense of loss and profound sorrow that we learnt of the passing of Dr Chris Archer, who died in Johannesburg on Wednesday the 3rd of March 2021, after a short illness.

Fondly remembered as “The face of private medicine”, Dr Archer was well- respected for his selfless leadership, his bold ideas, and his immense dedication to every one of his patients.

Dr Archer was a loyal and long-standing office bearer at both the South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SASOG) and Gynaecology Management Group (GMG) and will be sadly missed. He was an exemplar of the values that define these two organisations. He was also instrumental in initiating discussions between SASOG and GMG, which led to the confluence of these 2 bodies under the unified umbrella of SASOG/GMG.

SASOG and GMG wish to commemorate this pillar of our community and to pay homage to a man who was a visionary stalwart of the medical fraternity. We acknowledge his many contributions to our two organisations as well as the disciplines which were his passion; Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Amongst other leadership roles, Dr Archer served for 13 years as CEO of the SA Private Practitioners Forum, SAPPF and as chairman of the Free Market Foundation Health Policy Committee.

We honour his memory as a friend, colleague and tenacious advocate for the rights of the private medical fraternity. We offer our sincere condolences to his family who survive him: his wife Judy, his sons Matthew, Nicholas and Edward, and his grandchildren.