Zimbabwe has made a powerful appeal to African nations to prioritise the development of sustainable, domestic health financing mechanisms. This is in response to recent withdrawals of crucial donor funding across the continent. Speaking at the 75th World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa meeting in Zambia, Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora stressed that long-term resilience is key. It is…
Category: Archive
Every Health Matters article, newest first. Use the search or browse by month to find older reporting.
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Constitutional Court challenge to NHI Act by BHF
The legal storm surrounding the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act has intensified. The Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) launches a direct challenge in the Constitutional Court. They are targeting the very process Parliament followed in passing the controversial legislation. This is part of the broader Constitutional Court challenge to the NHI Act. This new legal assault extends beyond the content…
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WHO Cuts Jobs and Restructures Operations
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is undertaking a major restructuring that includes over 1,000 job losses. It also involves relocating four key departments from its headquarters in Geneva. These changes are due to severe budget cuts following the United States’ decision to leave the agency. Internal documents reveal the global health body is scaling back its operations. It must streamline…
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Botswana’s Drug Supply Disrupted by Diamond Crisis
Amid concerns over Botswana’s drug supply, the country’s President, Duma Boko, has declared a national public health emergency. He launched a 5 billion pula ($348 million) response plan as the country’s healthcare system buckles under the weight of a severe medical supply shortage. Indeed, Botswana’s drug supply is a central focus of this emergency plan. In a televised address to…
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GLP-1 Drugs Lower Cancer Rates in Weight Loss Study
New findings suggest that popular GLP-1 drugs, widely prescribed for weight loss and type 2 diabetes, may significantly influence a patient’s risk of developing certain cancers. This is mainly for the better. A comprehensive review of medical records has uncovered a compelling link. It found that the use of GLP-1 agonists – such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound –…
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BHF Challenges NHI Act Over Public Consultation Flaws
The Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) has intensified its opposition to the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. It has launched a direct legal bid to the Constitutional Court to have the controversial legislation declared unlawful and invalid. The BHF challenges the NHI Act, contending that Parliament failed to fulfil its constitutional duty by conducting an improper public consultation process. This…
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Global Health Crisis and the Threat to NTD Programmes
Millions of life-saving medicines used to combat debilitating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are at risk of being wasted. Stockpiles are expiring in warehouses following the abrupt termination of a major US aid programme. Global health experts have sounded the alarm. They warn that this funding crisis could sabotage years of hard-won progress. Moreover, it could lead to a resurgence of…
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Adcock Ingram Reports Flat Profit Despite Winter Surge
Pharmaceutical giant Adcock Ingram has announced flat annual profits despite a significant recovery in the second half of its financial year. This was buoyed by strong demand for its popular over-the-counter winter medicines. In a landmark move, the maker of household staples like Panado and Corenza-C is also set to delist from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). This follows a…
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Pharma Giants Sidelined in R15.5bn HIV Drug Tender
The National Department of Health has awarded its latest three-year antiretroviral (ARV) tender, valued at R15.5 billion. This decision leaves several of South Africa’s largest domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers without a contract. The government’s procurement strategy sidelines pharma giants and sparks a fresh debate. This debate pits aggressive cost-saving measures against its stated goal of bolstering local industrial capacity. The tender…
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Public Health Reform: Urgent Changes Needed
The chair of Parliament’s portfolio committee on health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, has called for urgent legislative reform. This is to tackle the escalating disruptions at public health facilities by activists from Operation Dudula. The call comes as the group intensifies its campaign to block suspected foreign nationals from accessing healthcare. Dr Dhlomo condemned the group’s actions, which have seen members…
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TB Deaths in South Africa Persist Despite Drop in Infections
Tuberculosis (TB) remains South Africa’s most lethal infectious disease. TB deaths claimed an estimated 56,000 lives in 2023. This occurred even as the number of new infections saw a sharp decline, health officials have revealed. The stark figures highlight a growing paradox in the country’s fight against the disease. Although fewer people are contracting TB, a stubbornly high number are…