The Biovac Institute has retained a critical contract to supply the South African state with Hexaxim. Hexaxim is the six-in-one shot provided to infants in the national childhood immunisation programme. The R5.3bn award was announced in the Department of Health’s next three-year national vaccine tender. This tender is set to begin on January 1, 2027. This contract is vital to…
Category: Archive
Every Health Matters article, newest first. Use the search or browse by month to find older reporting.
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Lenacapavir Rollout in South Africa Set For June 5 Launch
South Africa will begin providing Gilead’s long-acting HIV prevention injection, lenacapavir, on 5 June 2026, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told Parliament during his department’s budget vote. The twice-yearly shot serves as a major new tool for prevention. This follows trial data, which showed near-complete protection against HIV when used as PrEP. Motsoaledi said the country could “eliminate HIV/Aids as a…
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Africa Vaccine Procurement Framework Promises Security
Africa CDC and Aspen Pharmacare say they are in advanced discussions about a long-term demand-and-supply alignment plan that could reshape how African countries buy vaccines made on the continent. As part of these talks, officials are considering the Africa Vaccine Procurement Framework to support the process. They announced the engagement on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi.…
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Biovac Expansion Fundraising: $20M Secured from France
South African vaccine manufacturer Biovac has secured a further $20m (R327m) from two French development finance institutions. This brings its total fundraising to $128m (R2.4bn) and leaves the company within striking distance of its $180m (R2.95bn) target. Moreover, this new investment marks a significant milestone in the ongoing Biovac expansion fundraising effort. Agence Française de Développement and its private-sector arm,…
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German Drug Price Reforms Shake Pharma And Hospitals
Germany’s cost-of-care debate is moving from rhetoric to legislation. And it is landing hard on medicines and hospitals. The latest discussions on German drug price reforms come as Berlin is trying to stabilise statutory health insurance funds that are projected to drift deeper into deficit. Government estimates put the potential shortfall at around €40bn by 2030 if spending is not…
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AI Diagnostic Tools Outperform Doctors In Hospital Study
In a landmark experiment, South African researchers have revealed that artificial intelligence now surpasses human doctors in hospital ward diagnoses. The study took place at a large public hospital. It suggests that AI Diagnostic Tools could soon become essential for reducing the workloads of overstretched healthcare staff. While free chatbots often provide unreliable health advice, these commercially available systems proved…
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Dis-Chem Health Hub Drives Integrated Primary Care
Dis-Chem is stepping up its shift from pharmacy-led retail to wider healthcare delivery. The group says it wants to tackle South Africa’s “fragmented” healthcare system. Consumers often face rising costs. They also face long waiting times. Services can feel disconnected. The retailer’s answer is a new Dis-Chem Health Hub model. It brings multiple services into one setting. The pilot format…
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GEMS 2026 Contribution Increase Cut To 7.5% From July
The Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) revised its contribution increase to provide members with further financial relief. At the same time, it aims to protect the scheme’s long-term sustainability. GEMS principal officer Dr Stan Moloabi said the scheme is “acutely aware” of rising living costs and the impact on public servants and their families. GEMS is one of South Africa’s…
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Zimbabwe National Health Strategy Aims to Transform Healthcare
Zimbabwe has taken a significant step towards reshaping its health system, launching a high-level validation workshop for its National Health Strategy 2026-2030. Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora told stakeholders the strategy arrives at a “defining moment” for the country. He urged them to view it not as a policy document, but as an actionable roadmap. Importantly, it is aligned with Zimbabwe’s…
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NHI Act Court Challenge: Fairness of Public Hearings
South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI) legislation faced renewed scrutiny in the Constitutional Court yesterday, with arguments centred on whether Parliament’s public participation process met constitutional standards. Western Cape Premier Alan Winde brought the case, claiming the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) rushed key hearings in Gauteng and the Western Cape, making “meaningful engagement” impossible. The challenge lands at a…
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Aspen Insulin Approval Advances Local Health Solutions
Aspen Pharmacare has secured a landmark regulatory win after the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) approved the commercial release of Aspen’s first locally manufactured human insulin batches. The products are cleared for sale in South Africa and other African markets, moving the project from planning into live supply for patients and health systems. Aspen produces the insulin at…
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Hantavirus Border Screening: South Africa Reviews Protocols
The detection of two hantavirus-linked cases entering South Africa has sparked a critical review of the nation’s Hantavirus Border Screening effectiveness. Following a briefing to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health by Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, MPs are questioning whether current port-of-entry controls can reliably intercept serious infectious threats. The incident stems from an outbreak on the Dutch-flagged cruise vessel, MV…