The state of medical research in SA is currently at a crossroads. A sudden and significant reduction in grants from the United States, particularly from the NIH, poses a severe threat to medical research in South Africa. The key question is whether the South African government will view this challenge as an opportunity for renewed local investment. South Africa is…
Category: April 2025
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Collaboration with Private Sector to Enhance Healthcare
In a concerted effort to allay widespread concerns within South Africa’s private healthcare industry, top government officials are actively urging the sector to engage constructively with the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) framework. Rather than viewing the NHI as a threat, officials are framing it as a transformative national project. This project will create numerous new business and partnership opportunities.…
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New Pharmaceutical Tariffs: An Industry at Risk
A Temporary Reprieve from New Tariffs In a significant, albeit potentially temporary, development for one of the nation’s most critical sectors, the US pharmaceutical industry has successfully avoided the immediate impact of new pharmaceutical tariffs under President Donald Trump’s recent broad trade measures. This initial exemption has provided a moment of relief, allowing complex global supply chains to continue functioning…
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SAMA Challenges NHI Act: Doctors Speak Out
The South African Medical Association (Sama) has criticised the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act as “deeply flawed.” They warn that its implementation could jeopardise South Africa’s healthcare system. According to Sama chair Mvuyisi Mzukwa, there are significant concerns regarding access to care, financial viability, and administrative hurdles. He asserts that the act could harm doctors and patients. Therefore, SAMA challenges…
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Low-Cost Benefit Options Extended Until 2027
The medical schemes regulator has extended low-cost benefit options (LCBOs) for health insurance companies until March 31, 2027. This enables affordable coverage for lower-income households while a formal regulatory framework is still pending. The medical schemes regulator has granted health insurance companies a two-year extension until March 31, 2027. This allows them to operate under a framework that permits low-cost…
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Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Rates on the Rise in South Africa
South Africa’s stillbirths have more than doubled since 1997, reaching nearly 16,000 in 2020. Early neonatal deaths also remain high, with respiratory and cardiovascular complications as leading causes. Recent government statistics on perinatal deaths reveal concerns about maternal care in South Africa, with stillbirths more than doubling from 1997 to 2020. In 2020, 15,908 babies died in the womb, slightly…