Gauteng’s public health system is tightening its grip on unpaid patient fees as outstanding debt climbs to about R4.6 billion. The Gauteng department of health says the recovery drive is now a priority, as the province faces sustained financial pressure and rising demand for services. The department confirmed that it is intensifying revenue collection as part of a broader financial…
Category: Archive
Every Health Matters article, newest first. Use the search or browse by month to find older reporting.
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HPV Vaccination: School Vaccination Programme Cuts Risk
South Africa’s HPV vaccination drive is delivering measurable protection for teenagers, including those who later acquire HIV. New research led by scientists at Wits University shows the country’s school-based programme is sharply reducing infections with the two highest-risk HPV strains linked to cervical cancer. The vaccine used in the public programme targets HPV-16 and HPV-18, the strains responsible for around…
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Momentum Bonitas Deal Lifts Market Share To 30%
The Momentum Bonitas deal is set to reshape South Africa’s tightly concentrated medical scheme administration market. This follows Momentum Health winning the tender to administer the Bonitas Medical Fund. The transfer takes effect on 1 June 2026. It is being positioned by Momentum as a springboard for further growth in a sector dominated by a handful of large players. Momentum’s…
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Parmed Membership: MPs Push To End Compulsory Cover
The debate over political perks has shifted to medical aid. ActionSA MP Kgosi Letlape is lobbying to end compulsory membership of the Parmed medical scheme for MPs and other office-bearers. He argues that elected officials should be able to choose their own scheme. They should also be allowed to opt out entirely. Parmed is a restricted medical scheme. It is…
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Medical Aid Forensic Audits: UP Study Flags Physiotherapist Harm
Physiotherapists say medical aid forensic audits are leaving them “fearful, stigmatised and traumatised”, according to new research from the University of Pretoria (UP). The study suggests that processes meant to protect patients’ money may be causing serious harm to practitioners and destabilising private practices. Lesley Meyer, an extraordinary lecturer in UP’s department of physiotherapy, led a study recently published in…
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Animal Testing Alternatives: New FDA Guidance Insights
US regulators are stepping up efforts to reduce animal use in early drug development. On 18 March 2026, the US Food and Drug Administration issued draft guidance encouraging companies to swap or reduce animal studies where credible human-relevant tools exist. This marks an important recognition of the growing range of animal testing alternatives available to researchers. The FDA says a…
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AI Health Prompts Drive Earlier Cancer Detection at Discovery
Discovery Life says AI-driven health prompts are helping clients detect serious illness earlier, including cancer. The insurer shared the update to highlight how incentives and personalised recommendations can shift health behaviour. Discovery Life, part of JSE-listed Discovery, has long linked rewards to healthy choices through its Vitality programme. Now it is expanding that approach with AI-led prompts. The insurer has…
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NHLS TrakCare Outage Exposes Backup Power Gaps
South Africa’s National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) reported an ongoing disruption to its TrakCare information system. The outage left health professionals across the public sector unable to access patient results, disrupting routine care and time-critical decision-making. The NHLS provides diagnostic pathology services nationwide. It supports public facilities through a network of more than 300 laboratories. Because public sector clinicians rely…
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Conjoined Twins Separation Marks Historic Limpopo Breakthrough
A major surgical milestone has been recorded in Limpopo after conjoined identical twin boys were successfully separated at Mankweng Tertiary Hospital outside Polokwane. Professor Nyaweleni Tshifularo, the lead surgeon, confirmed the operation was a success. The twins were born on 28 January 2026. They were conjoined and shared a liver, intestines and blood vessels. The separation surgery took place on…
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HIV Prevention Shot Lenacapavir: Aspen Warns of Demand Risks
South Africa’s leading generic drug manufacturer, Aspen Pharmacare, has issued a stark warning regarding the local production of a breakthrough medical treatment. The company asserts that local firms require guaranteed demand to manufacture the HIV prevention shot lenacapavir sustainably. South Africa was notably absent from the initial round of voluntary licences. In 2024, the patent holder, Gilead Sciences, awarded licences…
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SA Professional Stress Index: A New Persistent Reality
A new study has revealed a troubling shift in the mental well-being of the nation’s workforce. According to the SA Professional Stress Index, conducted by Profmed, stress is no longer a series of isolated incidents. Instead, for over 4,000 surveyed professionals, it has become a “persistent, multilayered reality”. The report highlights a growing cohort of experts who spend prolonged periods…