The South African Medical Association (“SAMA”) as we know it today was formally constituted on 21 May 1998 as a unification of a variety of doctors groups that had represented a diversity of interests. Today, SAMA is a non-statutory, professional association for public and private sector medical practitioners. It functions as a non-profit company registered in terms of the Companies Act as well as a Public Sector registered in terms of the Labour Relations Act. SAMA is a voluntary membership association, existing to serve the best interests and needs of its members in any and all healthcare-related matters. SAMA's vision is to be the representative association for the South African medical profession. SAMA's mission is Empowering Doctors to bring health to the Nation.