Recent articles from The Citizen, titled “NHI: What About Critical Meds” and “Can NHI Provide Meds for 9m?”, raised concerns about the National Health Insurance (NHI) system’s ability to provide essential medication for nine million South Africans, who represent only 14.2% of the population. These questions, however, miss the bigger picture and seem to push a self-interested narrative, raising doubts…
Category: Archive
Every Health Matters article, newest first. Use the search or browse by month to find older reporting.
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US healthcare costs soar to decade highs
Healthcare costs in the United States are rising alarmingly, with a recent survey revealing that large employers expect an 8% increase in 2025. The situation is even more dire for small businesses, with data from investment bank Stephens predicting a 12% jump. This surge in healthcare expenses is the fastest seen in a decade and poses significant challenges for employers…
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Gauteng reports alarming HIV prevalence among 50-54-year-olds
Gauteng has recorded a significant HIV prevalence among residents aged 50 to 54, according to the sixth South African HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour Survey for the province, released by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). The study, led by Professor Khangelani Zuma, revealed a worrying HIV prevalence peak of 32.2% in 2022 among residents in the 50-54 age group.…
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Aspen Pharmacare to boost medicine and vaccine development
Aspen Pharmacare, a leading multinational pharmaceutical company, has secured a €500 million (R9.9 billion) loan package from a development finance consortium led by the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC). This substantial funding will further enhance Aspen’s efforts to develop and manufacture medicines and vaccines for the African continent. This new financing follows a €600 million long-term debt package Aspen…
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AfroCentric reports mixed results amid strategic investments
AfroCentric, a leading investment holding company in South Africa’s healthcare sector, has reported mixed financial results for the year ending June 2024. Despite significant impairments that impacted overall profitability, the company saw an improvement in headline earnings, signalling a gradual recovery in the South African pharmaceutical sector to pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, Sanlam acquired a controlling stake in AfroCentric, which…
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Affordable TB Medicines: South Africa’s Patent Battle
South Africa’s battle for affordable TB medicines echoes the country’s earlier struggle to expand access to HIV treatment. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, South Africa faced an uncontrolled AIDS epidemic. The crisis was worsened by the government’s rejection of the scientific consensus on HIV/AIDS. Under former President Thabo Mbeki, many public-sector patients were denied access to life-saving antiretroviral…
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Group urges clarification on cover for autoimmune diseases
The Autoimmune Association of South Africa (AASA) has urged the South African medical schemes regulator, the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), to provide clear guidelines regarding the extent to which medical schemes are required to cover expensive specialised treatments that are not commonly available in the public healthcare system. AASA’s executive director, Catherine McCormack, highlighted the ongoing struggles of dozens…
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Reviving abandoned healthcare reforms in South Africa
According to the Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA), South Africa’s healthcare landscape could undergo a transformative shift if previously abandoned reforms are reintroduced. The association emphasised that these reforms, set aside when the ANC began pursuing National Health Insurance (NHI), could drastically reduce the number of patients relying on public health facilities and improve overall access to care. Historical…
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Challenges with second Presidential Health Compact
The second presidential health compact, recently signed by the government alongside limited health sector stakeholders, claims to be a framework for cooperation to achieve positive healthcare outcomes. However, concerns are mounting that it serves primarily to push the legally contested and potentially unconstitutional National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. Misrepresentations and Misleading Claims The government has made several misleading claims in…
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High Court lets RAF appeal judgment on new claim requirements
The Pretoria High Court has granted the Road Accident Fund (RAF) permission to appeal a recent ruling that nullified its attempt to enforce stricter requirements on claimants. This development comes amid ongoing legal battles over the RAF’s authority and the rights of road accident victims. The RAF, a statutory entity responsible for compensating road accident victims for medical expenses and…
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Health Department to release first NHI draft regulations
The South African Department of Health is set to release its initial draft regulations for the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act within the next month, marking a significant step towards the government’s ambitious goal of achieving universal health coverage. According to a senior official, these regulations will soon be available for public comment, inviting stakeholders to contribute to shaping the…
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NHI faces funding challenges to match medical aid quality
As South Africa moves towards implementing the National Health Insurance (NHI), concerns are mounting over whether the new system will match the quality of care provided by private medical aids. Despite medical schemes’ standard coverage of essential services, experts highlight that NHI will require substantial funding to ensure that it offers comparable care, particularly in handling medical emergencies, maternity care,…