A more effective shingles vaccine is expected to become available in South Africa by the end of June 2026. However, its price and planned private-sector launch could place it beyond the reach of many patients. Shingrix is manufactured by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, or GSK. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority recently registered the vaccine. SAHPRA registration means Shingrix can…
Category: Archive
Every Health Matters article, newest first. Use the search or browse by month to find older reporting.
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AI Alternatives To Animal Testing Gain Momentum
Millions of animals are used worldwide to test medicines, chemicals and cosmetics. Mice, rats, rabbits, dogs and primates may experience pain or distress during these experiments. Animal testing has traditionally been defended as necessary to protect human health. However, advances in artificial intelligence are challenging that argument. Machine-learning systems can now predict drug toxicity, organ damage and chemical hazards. In…
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US Prescription Drug Spending to Top $560bn in 2026
US prescription drug spending will top $560 billion in 2026, according to current projections. This would represent an 8.2% increase from the previous year. Growing demand for obesity and diabetes treatments is partly driving this rise. These include a new generation of GLP-1 medicines. Projections show prescription medicines outpacing all other major categories of healthcare spending in the US. Their…
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iDexis Semaglutide Ban Ordered By High Court
The High Court has temporarily stopped pharmacy group iDexis from manufacturing, supplying and marketing weight-loss medicines containing semaglutide. The iDexis semaglutide ban follows an application by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. The company manufactures Ozempic and Wegovy. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in both medicines. Ozempic is registered as a treatment for diabetes. Wegovy is approved for weight management. The…
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Contraceptive Shortages Hit South African Healthcare
South Africa is facing severe supply constraints of several widely used birth control brands. Manufacturing disruptions at Aspen Pharmacare have triggered these stockouts. The Department of Health and the major pharmacy chain Clicks confirmed the disruption this week. The supply gap impacts both state-subsidised clinics and private pharmacies. Key oral contraceptives like Triphasil, Nordette, and Microval are currently difficult to…
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Medical Scheme Clawbacks Upheld By High Court
The South African Society of Physiotherapy has lost its legal challenge against medical scheme clawbacks. The High Court in Pretoria dismissed the society’s application to have Section 59(3) of the Medical Schemes Act declared unconstitutional and invalid. The judgment ends a five-year legal battle involving the Minister of Health, the Council for Medical Schemes and the country’s medical schemes. The…
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GEMS 2026 Contribution Increase Faces Regulatory Scrutiny
The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has raised major concerns over a new financial proposal by the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS). The regulator warns that the revised GEMS 2026 contribution increase might threaten the long-term financial stability of South Africa’s largest medical scheme. Public sector unions have consistently pressured GEMS to protect members from rising costs. In response, GEMS…
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AI Healthcare Tools Cut South African Doctors’ Admin
Many South African doctors and allied healthcare workers are turning to artificial intelligence to reduce administrative pressure. Healthcare providers are using AI tools to record consultations, create clinical notes, prepare referral letters, support coding, and assist with prescriptions. These platforms use speech-to-text technology to capture consultations in real time. Many of the tools are less than two years old. Yet…
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European Drug-Pricing Policies Face Pushback From Big Pharma
Global pharmaceutical companies are ramping up pressure on European governments over healthcare spending controls. Germany has become the latest focal point of intense industry resistance. Drugmakers facing tighter financial regulations across Europe are deploying a familiar strategy. They are warning policymakers that local investments, facility expansions, and patient access to life-saving medicines are at risk. This playbook recently delivered major…