Global pharmaceutical companies are entering 2026 facing a high-stakes European drug pricing dispute as they seek to offset recent price concessions in the United States. Following intense pressure from President Donald Trump, who secured major drug price cuts for American patients in late 2025, companies are now turning to Europe to recoup revenue losses. Manufacturers such as Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and AstraZeneca have…
Category: Archive
Every Health Matters article, newest first. Use the search or browse by month to find older reporting.
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Discovery Health Claims Error Triggers Outrage Over Oversight
A year-long administrative failure at Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) has sparked mounting frustration among members, as the scheme begins recovering erroneous payments from policyholders. The Discovery Health claims error, which went undetected for 12 months, has affected an estimated 16,000 members across five high-end plans. The administrator, Discovery Health, is now requesting repayment of substantial amounts, some exceeding R68,000.…
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GEMS Tariff Intervention Underway Amid Affordability Concerns
The South African government has stepped into the controversy surrounding sharp increases in contributions to the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS). Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi told Parliament that officials will engage with GEMS trustees regarding what he called “unaffordable tariffs.” This follows a 9.8% hike in GEMS member contributions this year, on top of a 13.4% increase…
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Medscheme Bonitas Legal Battle Over RFPs Escalates Amid Probe
A critical legal dispute is unfolding in South Africa’s private healthcare sector. Medscheme has filed an urgent application with the Johannesburg High Court to suspend or terminate several Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued by Bonitas Medical Fund. Furthermore, the dispute signals deepening tensions between long-standing partners in the administration of the country’s second-largest open medical scheme. Medscheme Bonitas Legal Battle…
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NHLS Cancer Test Outsourcing Hits R116m As Backlog Cleared
South Africa’s National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) spent approximately R116 million between June and November 2025 to outsource cancer pathology tests to private providers. The emergency measure came in response to a national outcry over dangerous delays in public diagnostic services. NHLS Cancer Test Outsourcing Clears Critical Backlog The crisis intensified at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH), where…
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AfroCentric Divests Activo Health In Strategic Shift Toward Services
AfroCentric Investment Corporation, a Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed healthcare firm, has announced the sale of its pharmaceutical unit, Activo Health, to Portuguese pharmaceutical giant FHC Group. This sale marks a pivotal shift in AfroCentric’s operational focus. The group is moving away from pharmaceutical manufacturing and marketing. AfroCentric Divests Activo Health In Portfolio Overhaul AfroCentric’s subsidiary, ACT Healthcare Assets, entered into an…
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Global Malaria Crisis Deepens Amid US Cuts, Rising Resistance
The global malaria crisis is facing a severe and potentially irreversible setback, according to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) latest report. Progress in fighting the disease has stagnated since 2015, and by 2024, key indicators show a dramatic regression that experts are calling catastrophic. Global Malaria Crisis Escalates With Alarming Statistics In 2024, malaria infected 282 million people and killed…
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Dis-Chem’s Personalised Healthcare Strategy Redefines Retail
South Africa’s healthcare retail sector is undergoing a bold transformation, with Dis-Chem leading the charge. In a strategic pivot from traditional marketing, Dis-Chem is embracing personalised healthcare to position itself as a fully integrated, tech-driven healthcare provider. This move redefines the pharmacy model, bringing together data, artificial intelligence (AI), and behavioural insights to deliver tailored experiences for every customer. Better…
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Aspen APAC Divestment Unlocks R26.5 Billion For GLP-1 Focus
Shares in Aspen Pharmacare soared by more than 20% at the close of December, following a major strategic pivot. Africa’s largest drugmaker announced a landmark agreement to sell its entire Asia-Pacific (APAC) operations – excluding China – to Australia’s BGH Capital for A$2.37 billion (around R26.5 billion). The Aspen APAC divestment comes after an unsolicited offer from the private equity…
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GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Reshape Obesity Care In South Africa
South Africa’s fight against obesity has entered a decisive phase, driven by a surge in the medicalisation of treatment through GLP-1 weight loss drugs. In early 2026, two major medications, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide), have received key regulatory approvals, marking a new chapter in primary healthcare. With nearly 4.5 million South African adults living with obesity, the shift comes…
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America First Health Funding Strategy Faces East African Test
Uganda has signed a landmark $1.7 billion health sector funding agreement with the United States. This makes it the latest African nation to adopt the America First health funding framework. East Africa now serves as the testing ground for this strategic shift in US global health policy, which emphasises national co-financing, data transparency, and US procurement of goods. Meanwhile, legal…
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Medical Tax Credits Debate Sparks Warnings From Policy Experts
The ongoing Medical Tax Credits debate in South Africa has taken a sharp turn. Leading health policy experts push back against calls to eliminate medical tax credits (MTCs) to fund the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. Professor Alex van den Heever of the Wits School of Governance and Dr Max Price, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, have…