Three medical aid schemes – Medihelp, Sizwe Hosmed Medical Scheme, and Transmed Medical Fund – did not maintain their medical scheme solvency ratios at or above the statutory minimum of 25% in 2023. This was a key finding in the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) Financial Performance Industry Report 2023, released last week. While the total number of medical aid…
Category: Archive
Every Health Matters article, newest first. Use the search or browse by month to find older reporting.
-
HIV Crisis: Impact of US Aid Cuts on Treatment
South Africa’s hard-won gains against the ongoing HIV crisis and AIDS are facing a perilous new challenge following significant cuts to US funding. These cuts have sparked fears of a resurgence in infections and deaths. Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, once lauded for his decisive action against the epidemic, is now under intense scrutiny for his response to the escalating…
-
NHI Sparks Alarm and Calls for Healthcare Reform
The looming implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act is casting a long shadow over South Africa. NHI sparks alarm among critics who are expressing profound concern over its viability. This is particularly due to the well-documented struggles within the existing public healthcare system. Fears are mounting that the ambitious plan could decimate private medical schemes. However, it might…
-
Life Healthcare Reports Robust Half-Year Performance
Life Healthcare Group Holdings Ltd has announced a robust operating performance for the first half of its financial year. The company showcased significant growth driven by strong patient activity. Also, the benefits reaped from strategic acquisitions completed in the latter half of 2024 contributed. For the six months ended March, the diversified healthcare provider reported an 8.1% increase in revenue,…
-
Global Health Giants Consider Merger Amidst Funding Crunch
In a significant development for global health, two of the world’s leading organisations, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the Gavi vaccine alliance, are in discussions to merge some operational functions. This strategic move aims to combat a severe financing crunch. A Response to Aid Budget Pull-Backs While discussions about more efficient collaboration have been ongoing…
-
How Health Reform Could Be Ramaphosa’s Trump Card
Even before the recent meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office, it was evident that the new US administration was closely scrutinising South Africa. Topics like health reform and the potential threats of punitive import tariffs were at the forefront. There were also significant cuts to crucial aid, especially for essential HIV programmes. The US Secretary of State made…
-
Boost for Public Health Jobs in South Africa
The South African government has announced a significant financial injection of over R20 billion to revitalise the public health sector. This provides a much-needed boost for public health. This move aims to safeguard thousands of jobs and address critical staff shortages. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana unveiled the allocation while tabling his latest 2025/2026 budget. The National Assembly dubbed this budget…
-
Treasury Weighs Emergency Funding for Health Needs
The South African National Treasury is reviewing critical funding requests from the Department of Health and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). This is to mitigate the severe financial impact of cuts imposed by the US President Donald Trump’s administration. The Treasury is weighing emergency funding to address these urgent needs. This consideration follows a significant blow to South…
-
Uncontrolled Hypertension Plagues Millions in SA
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, has emerged as a significant public health crisis in South Africa. It silently affects millions and places immense strain on the nation’s healthcare system. With over 8.2 million individuals reported to be living with the condition, the prevalence rate is staggering. It is around 45% among men and 48% among women over the age of…
-
Global Health: Understanding the WHO Pandemic Accord
In a significant move for global health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has adopted a new legally binding agreement. This is to bolster international preparedness for future pandemics. The World Health Assembly passed the accord in Geneva after three years of intense negotiations. It was met with applause from member countries. However, the absence of the United States, the WHO’s…
-
Netcare Mental Health Services Growing Nationwide
Leading private hospital group Netcare is significantly expanding its mental healthcare footprint across South Africa. They have plans for new Akeso facilities in Pretoria, Polokwane, and Alberlito. This expansion emphasises the commitment to Netcare mental health services. Demand for quality mental health support continues to rise nationwide. Responding to growing mental health needs Growing demand for mental health services in…
-
The Rise in Obesity: Rethinking Our Response
The global rise in obesity, particularly among children and young people, is a pressing health concern. A recent study reveals that the proportion of young people (aged 5-24) living with obesity more than tripled from 2% in 1990 to over 6% by 2021. South Africa faces a particularly severe challenge. Specifically, 16% of children aged 6-18 are classified as “severely…