South Africa’s local pharmaceutical manufacturers have warned that the Department of Health’s growing reliance on imported medicines could place jobs, industrial capacity, and the country’s security of medicine supply at risk. The warning follows analysis by Pharmaceuticals Made in SA (Pharmisa). Their findings show that importers have steadily increased their share of two of the Department of Health’s biggest medicine…
Category: Archive
Every Health Matters article, newest first. Use the search or browse by month to find older reporting.
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Surge in Malaria as Climate Change Fuels Regional Outbreaks
Malaria cases in Mpumalanga increased fourfold in January compared with the same period a year earlier, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). This intensifies concern over South Africa’s goal of eliminating the disease by 2029. This dramatic malaria cases surge highlights the urgency for effective intervention. The sharp rise comes as several southern African countries report major…
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Lenacapavir HIV Prevention Injection: SA Rollout Faces Heat
South Africa’s long-acting HIV prevention programme has entered a new phase. President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi led an official rollout event in Secunda, Mpumalanga, on 5 June 2026. The twice-yearly injection of lenacapavir prevents HIV infection when used as prescribed. Health officials position the product as a major addition to the country’s prevention toolkit. This is alongside…
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Medical Scheme Financial Pressure Escalates As Costs Soar
South Africa’s private healthcare sector is facing a severe sustainability crisis. According to a new report by Alexander Forbes Health, the medical scheme industry is trapped in a tightening financial vice. Rising provider fees, escalating utilisation, and rapid technological advances are driving up the cost of care across the board. Paresh Prema, the head of technical and actuarial consulting at…
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Excessive Dialysis Product Pricing: Adcock Ingram Referred
South Africa’s Competition Commission has referred pharmaceutical manufacturer Adcock Ingram’s hospital division to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution over alleged excessive pricing of kidney dialysis products. The referral, announced on 3 June 2026, targets Adcock Ingram Critical Care (AICC) and covers pricing for peritoneal dialysis and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) products between July 2019 and June 2024. The commission…
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Semaglutide Compounding Dispute: Novo Nordisk Heads To Court
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk is taking compounding pharmacy iDexis to the Pretoria High Court. The highly anticipated legal battle will take place on June 10. The case focuses on the unauthorised scale production of semaglutide-based weight-loss injections. Novo Nordisk wants the court to stop iDexis from manufacturing, advertising, and distributing these products. The global firm alleges that iDexis is…
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South Africa’s Suicide Rate Ranks Fourth In Africa
South Africa has the fourth-highest suicide rate in Africa, according to the latest figures published via the World Health Organisation’s Global Health Observatory. The country’s rate is 21.1 deaths per 100,000 people. It sits behind Lesotho (36.7), Eswatini (31.0) and Zimbabwe (25.4). Eritrea (20.2) rounds out the top five among countries that submitted data. The ranking matters beyond public health…
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Dis-Chem Franchise Expansion Targets 500 Stores
Dis-Chem is accelerating its wholesale-brand franchise network. Management says its independent pharmacy platform, The Local Choice (TLC), could eventually grow to 500 stores. This aggressive push highlights the ongoing consolidation in South Africa’s independent pharmacy sector. In the year to February, the number of TLC franchise stores increased to 280 from 240. The number of independent pharmacies supplied by Dis-Chem…
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SA Pharma Localisation Faces Foreign Investor Pressure
South Africa’s pharmaceutical sector has become a major industrial battleground. The government is pushing hard to localise production and boost public procurement. It also wants to rebuild domestic capacity. However, outside forces are complicating these goals. Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau delivered this warning at a recent stakeholder engagement. He noted that foreign investors remain highly interested in…
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Life Healthcare Expansion Plans Add Beds And Specialists
Private hospital group Life Healthcare is moving forward with strategic growth initiatives. The JSE-listed company intends to expand capacity, open a new hospital, and recruit more specialists. These Life Healthcare expansion plans aim to significantly boost occupancy rates across all its medical facilities. Strategic Asset Growth And Infrastructure Investments The company will continue to grow its underlying asset base in…