The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Global Surgery and Emergency Medicine Divisions have recently been designated as a World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre. This prestigious designation underscores UCT’s critical role in addressing global healthcare disparities, with a particular focus on surgical and emergency care in underserved populations. Nearly five billion people worldwide lack access to essential surgical services, with…
Category: Archive
Every Health Matters article, newest first. Use the search or browse by month to find older reporting.
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Gauteng health introduces plan to tackle adverse events
The Gauteng Department of Health has announced a new plan to prevent unwanted outcomes at state healthcare facilities. This comes in response to alarming department figures revealing that 9,390 serious adverse events (SAEs) were recorded across hospitals and clinics in 2023 alone. Health and wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has faced growing pressure to improve patient care standards after the department…
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Are you willing to pay 30% more tax for 70% less healthcare?
The future of South Africa’s healthcare system remains a hot topic, particularly with the looming implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI). According to Adrian Gore, CEO of Discovery, the current funding model proposed for NHI will significantly impact both tax rates and healthcare coverage. His stark warning? Personal income tax may need to increase by 31%, while employed individuals may…
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Alarming Suicide Rates in Africa: Can We Reverse the Trend?
Africa has the world’s highest suicide rate, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). A complex interplay of factors, including poverty, unemployment, and limited access to mental health services, drives this alarming statistic. South Africa in crisis South Africa paints a bleak picture, ranking third in Africa with a suicide rate of 23.5 per 100,000 people. This burden falls especially…
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Discovery addresses the high cost of private healthcare
The Discovery Group has identified the rising prevalence of chronic illnesses and an ageing population as key factors driving the high cost of private healthcare in South Africa. These factors, along with other market forces, contribute significantly to medical inflation, which continues to outpace consumer price inflation (CPI). Key drivers of medical inflation According to Discovery, increasing chronicity accounts for…
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IRD SA to pay over R10 million in false claims settlement
The domestic unit of the multinational nonprofit organisation, Interactive Research and Development SA (IRD SA) has agreed to pay more than R10 million to US authorities after being accused of submitting false claims to the US Agency for International Development (USAID). This settlement follows allegations that IRD SA “knowingly submitted false claims” for work not performed under a cooperative agreement…
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BUSA encouraged by the government’s engagement on NHI Act
Business Unity South Africa (Busa) has expressed optimism following its meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa and other government officials to discuss the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. Busa welcomed the government’s openness to engage on the contentious legislation and, at the president’s request, will submit a proposal to address its concerns. The meeting, attended by President Ramaphosa, Health Minister Aaron…
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CMS rejects guidance call on autoimmune treatments
The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), South Africa’s medical scheme industry regulator, has declined a request from the Autoimmune Alliance of SA (AASA) to issue clear guidance on funding expensive biologic treatments for autoimmune diseases. CMS emphasized that each case must be assessed on its own merits, rejecting a blanket directive for funding. The AASA has been actively lobbying the…
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UN General Assembly wants urgency in achieving UHC by 2030
As the 79th UN General Assembly convened on September 10, global attention shifted towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030 – a critical goal of the sustainable development agenda. With just over five years remaining, the focus is on strengthening health systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, many of which are in Africa. Universal health coverage aims to…
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SIU investigations: Fighting collusion in medico-legal claims
The Department of Health paid R2.7 billion in medical-related legal claims last year. In 2013, it was only R265 million, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) told the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa). SIU head, Advocate Andy Mothibi, revealed evidence of collusion between lawyers, touts, nurses, and doctors in public and private healthcare. Some law firms withdrew claims after SIU…
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Addressing dissatisfaction: Ramaphosa’s stance on NHI Act
Only Parliament can change the National Health Insurance (NHI) by passing amendment legislation. No amount of meetings between President Cyril Ramaphosa and organised business will alter this. However, Ramaphosa is aware of the dissatisfaction with the NHI. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s rigid stance has frustrated business leaders. After a meeting with Motsoaledi, Ramaphosa told the National Council of Provinces (NCOP)…
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One in seven South African moms are teens
Every day, nearly 365 teenage girls give birth in South Africa. Of these, 10 are younger than 15. These statistics come from the 2022/2023 District Health Barometer, which provides an overview of public health services in the country. Teen pregnancy rates are a key measure of a country’s healthcare system. Although global rates have fallen, South Africa still sees about…