South Africa is grappling with a quiet, yet deadly crisis: the alarming proliferation of counterfeit and substandard medicines, known as the counterfeit medicine crisis. While the nation faces ongoing health-care challenges like rising drug prices, medicine shortages, and a strained public health system, the influx of fake drugs presents a far more insidious threat. These aren’t just ineffective placebos; they…
Category: Archive
Every Health Matters article, newest first. Use the search or browse by month to find older reporting.
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African Cancer Study Reveals New Genetic Links
In a significant step for global health equity, researchers at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) at the University of the Witwatersrand have uncovered two novel genetic variants. These variants increase susceptibility to breast cancer in Black South African women. This groundbreaking discovery, detailed in a study published in the journal Nature Communications, sheds new light on the…
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Vaccine Advisory Panel Dismissed by US Health Secretary
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the scientific and medical communities, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced the immediate dismissal of all 17 members of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP). The decision, described as the most far-reaching action yet by the long-standing vaccine sceptic, aims…
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Western Cape Patient Health and Public Partnerships
In a significant move to improve Western Cape patient health, the Western Cape Department of health & wellness has established an innovative think tank. This group focuses on forging closer ties with the private sector. The initiative aims to unlock new avenues for delivering quality care to state patients. These efforts range from enhancing access to vital diagnostic imaging to…
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Gauteng MRI Rollout: Improving Patient Care
The Gauteng Department of Health is making significant strides in modernising its diagnostic capabilities. They are rolling out new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines across the province’s leading public hospitals. This initiative responds directly to challenges posed by outdated equipment, surging patient demand, and existing staff shortages. These issues have contributed to lengthy waiting times for crucial diagnostic scans, particularly…
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HFA Proposes NHI+ to Transform South Africa’s Healthcare
The battle over South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI) has escalated. The Health Funders Association (HFA) has tabled a compelling alternative model. The HFA unveiled this “NHI+” proposal amidst legal challenges against the controversial NHI Act.. It claims to offer a “faster, more affordable and lower-risk route to achieving universal health coverage.” Therefore, the HFA proposes enhancing NHI with their…
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HFA’s NHI Court Challenge: A Legal Perspective
The contentious National Health Insurance (NHI) Act again faces court action, with HFA’s NHI court challenge marking its sixth legal challenge. This time, HFA’s NHI court challenge is brought by the Health Funders Association (HFA). The HFA represents a significant portion of South Africa’s medical scheme industry, including Discovery Health Medical Scheme. It has formally petitioned the court to declare…
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NHI Court Appeal Update: Ramaphosa’s Legal Battle
In a pivotal development for South Africa’s ambitious healthcare reform agenda, President Cyril Ramaphosa has secured direct leave to appeal to the Constitutional Court against a High Court ruling concerning his decision to sign the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act into law. This move escalates the legal contestation surrounding the highly anticipated legislation, which aims to establish universal health coverage.…
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Call for Radical Reform to Combat Health Crisis
The recent World Health Assembly in Geneva convened against a backdrop of seismic shifts in the global health arena. A dramatic reduction in funding, a re-evaluation of priorities, and a changing leadership dynamic are collectively reshaping how the world addresses its most pressing health challenges. At the heart of this upheaval lies the United States’ decision to significantly cut foreign…
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Medical Device Industry on the Brink as Debt Soars to R1.4 Billion
The South African medical device industry is sounding the alarm once again as provincial health departments, the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), and the SA Military Health Service collectively owe over R1.4 billion to medical suppliers. This debt, with a significant portion outstanding for more than 30 days, is pushing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the brink and threatening…
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Gauteng Surgical Backlog Leaves Cancer Patient in Limbo
A Gauteng man with aggressive skin cancer faces an eight-month wait for urgent surgery. This comes amid a 34,000-strong surgical backlog, highlighting a deepening healthcare crisis. The Gauteng surgical backlog has reached critical levels, with over 34,000 patients waiting for procedures across the province’s public hospitals. Salomé Meyer, director of the Cancer Alliance, condemned the system that classifies cancer operations…