Category: Archive

Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company, has partnered with South African drug manufacturer Aspen to produce insulin in vials for 1.1 million people in Africa by 2026. While the deal addresses insulin shortages, it doesn’t solve a key issue: South African public hospitals are running out of insulin pens, a more user-friendly option because Novo Nordisk stopped supplying them due…

The United States has successfully negotiated lower prices for 10 of the most expensive prescription drugs covered by Medicare, with price cuts as high as 79%. This move, announced by President Joe Biden, is expected to save $6 billion in the first year and is part of an effort to address public frustration over high drug prices before the November…

The signing of the second Presidential Health Compact, which supports the National Health Insurance (NHI) plan, has been postponed to August 22. An urgent notice from the presidency’s events team cited “unforeseen circumstances” for the delay. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, explained that the postponement was due to scheduling changes that were unrelated to any opposition to the NHI.…

Africa’s top public health body, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has declared a “public health emergency of continental security” due to a fast-spreading outbreak of Mpox. The outbreak, which started in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has now spread to neighbouring countries. Africa CDC warned last week that the virus, which spreads through close…

Mpox cases have surged across Africa since the beginning of the year, with the virus now spreading to previously unaffected countries. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 15 countries, including Burundi, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa, have reported mpox cases. Some East African countries, like Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda, are facing the virus for the first…

Business Unity SA (Busa) has strongly objected to the emphasis on National Health Insurance (NHI) in the upcoming second presidential health compact. Busa stated that it cannot support a policy it fundamentally opposes. A draft of the compact, circulated last week, explicitly supports NHI and its enabling legislation. Busa argues that the NHI is unaffordable, unworkable, and could harm South…

Liberty Holdings has announced the closure of its health business. Liberty confirmed that it has begun an “orderly exit process” for the operations under Liberty Health (Pty) Ltd. Earlier reports indicated that Liberty was considering restructuring parts of its business, including Liberty Health. An anonymous employee mentioned that around 200 staff members could be affected by the closure. However, Liberty…

As political battles between the ANC and the DA over the National Health Insurance (NHI) rage on, South Africa’s struggling healthcare system continues to fail its citizens. This is particularly true for those battling cancer. The NHI bill, signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in May, aims to provide universal access to quality healthcare for all South Africans. However,…

The National Health Insurance (NHI) Act is now a reality in South Africa. However, there is hope that the national dialogue process, as envisioned by the unity government, will lead to more positive and constructive discussions. In his recent address to Parliament, President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised that achieving universal healthcare for all South Africans will require the resources and capabilities…

The Independent Community Pharmacy Association (ICPA) has reported that some members are still owed money after participating in the Covid-19 vaccination programme. This ongoing issue raises concerns about the financial risks of providing services to the government under the upcoming National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. Jackie Maimin, CEO of the ICPA, expressed frustration, saying it’s hard to ask our members…

A rapidly spreading Mpox outbreak in Africa is likely to be declared a public health emergency of continental security this week. This will be the first time Africa’s main health advisory body, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), will use this new authority, which it received in 2023. The declaration aims to help coordinate an international…

In KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), 791 patients are waiting for six to eight weeks to get radiation treatment for cancer at public hospitals. In contrast, in Gauteng, thousands of cancer patients are waiting much longer – some over a year – for treatment at the province’s two main cancer hospitals. The Gauteng health department is now facing legal action, as organisations like…