Category: Archive

The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is spearheading the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM) to transform Africa’s ability to locally manufacture and procure essential medicines, vaccines, and public health supplies. The mechanism will become operational within the next three to five years. APPM’s goal is to secure sustainable and self-sufficient vaccine production across the continent. This…

John Nkengasong, head of the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), has prioritised convincing the US Congress to return to the programme’s traditional five-year reauthorisation. Pepfar, established by former President George W. Bush in 2003, is a crucial funding source for HIV/Aids programmes in countries hardest hit by the epidemic, including South Africa. For 20 years, Pepfar enjoyed broad bipartisan support in Congress, with…

Novo Nordisk may have ignited the weight-loss drug frenzy with Ozempic, but Eli Lilly is hot on its heels, aiming to dominate this lucrative market.  However, the company faces significant hurdles on its path to pharmaceutical dominance. The demand for Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drugs, particularly Mounjaro and Zepbound, is skyrocketing.  With an estimated 100 million Americans and 1 billion individuals…

Last month, I visited a nearby CVS, rolled up my sleeve and got the latest COVID-19 vaccine. Curious about how many others were doing the same, I went online to check the numbers. The results were grim: fewer than 5% of US adults have received the newest COVID. Analysts from Jefferies predict this year’s COVID immunisation rate will be even…

A recent survey by the SA Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) reveals that three-quarters of workers think about work constantly, even in their free time. The survey highlights significant work-related stressors, with more than a third of respondents worried about losing their jobs. The study, conducted among Sadag’s online community, offers valuable insight into the pressure employees face across various…

In the fight against cancer, the impact of technological advancements and collaborative efforts cannot be overstated. In a decade marked by personal tragedy, the need for innovative solutions in cancer care has never been more urgent. Can artificial intelligence (AI) advancements and public-private partnerships (PPPs) be the answer to Africa’s escalating cancer burden? Cancer continues to be a leading cause…

The scale of medical negligence claims against the Gauteng health department has skyrocketed, with a staggering 36% increase in payouts in the past year. According to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, figures presented to parliament reveal that Gauteng paid R696 million in 2023/24, a sharp rise from the R512 million paid the previous year. This troubling increase underscores the ongoing challenges…

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has every reason to call out unscrupulous lawyers who concoct fraudulent medical negligence claims or pocket large portions of compensation meant for victims of medical errors and neglect. These exploitative practices not only drain the public health sector’s resources but also undermine the genuine claims of those truly harmed by substandard care. However, the minister also…

The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has released its Annual Report for the 2023/24 financial year, reflecting its unwavering commitment to its vision and mission in a challenging macroeconomic environment. Despite pressures in the healthcare sector, the CMS protects the interests of over nine million medical scheme beneficiaries across South Africa, maintaining its pivotal role in regulating the private healthcare…

US scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNA and its vital role in gene regulation. This discovery has revolutionised our understanding of how multicellular organisms grow and develop. The Nobel Assembly lauded the duo’s research for uncovering a new class of tiny RNA molecules, pivotal in…

As healthcare costs surge, Bestmed Medical Scheme, South Africa’s fourth-largest open medical scheme, has expressed concern about rising medical scheme contributions driving support for National Health Insurance (NHI). Bestmed, with over 100,000 main members, has proposed an average contribution increase of 12.75% for 2025, pending approval from the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS). Bestmed CEO Leo Dlamini warned that these…

Two drug rehab centres managed by Life Nkanyisa in Randfontein and Witpoort have closed after the Gauteng Department of Social Development withdrew funding. These centres, which had a combined capacity of 606 beds for in-patient rehabilitation and 144 beds for halfway house programmes, were the most extensive substance abuse treatment facilities funded by the department. The closure has left a…