A recent study reveals that women in South Africa have a higher HIV prevalence (16.4%) compared with men (8.8%). Activists identify early sexual activity, age-disparate relationships, low condom use, and having multiple sexual partners as key factors contributing to this disparity. Data from the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) highlights that while South Africa is making progress against HIV/AIDS, women…
Category: Archive
Every Health Matters article, newest first. Use the search or browse by month to find older reporting.
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High Court ruling on certificate of need not linked to NHI
Last week, the Pretoria High Court overturned the certificate of need requirement that controls where doctors work and healthcare facilities are set up. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi clarified that this judgment is unrelated to the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. The certificate of need was part of the National Health Act, introduced 20 years before the NHI Act. The court…
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Doctors celebrate ruling on ‘unconstitutional legislation’
Doctors are celebrating the Pretoria High Court’s decision on Wednesday, declaring the legislation allowing the government to dictate where health professionals can practice unconstitutional. This victory comes from the efforts of Solidarity, the Alliance of South African Independent Practitioners Associations, the South African Private Practitioner Forum, and the Hospital Association of SA. The ruling is a significant setback for the…
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High Court rejects controversial Certificate of Need
The High Court in Pretoria has dismissed the Health Minister’s defence of the government’s contentious plans to control where doctors can work. The judgement affirms a previous ruling that deemed the National Health Act’s certificate of need provisions unconstitutional and recommended their removal. This ruling is significant as the certificate of need is a crucial part of the government’s National…
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Pharma companies aim to halve CAR-T therapy production time
Big pharmaceutical companies like Gilead Sciences, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, and Bristol Myers Squibb are focusing on reducing the manufacturing turnaround time for personalised blood cancer treatments known as CAR-T therapies. These treatments involve re-engineering a patient’s T cells to attack malignant cells and are used for patients with aggressive advanced cancers. Currently priced between $400,000 and $600,000, these treatments…
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Addressing the economic impact of sick days in South Africa
Sick days cost the South African economy an estimated R19 billion annually, equating to about 15% of employees being absent on any given day. With the economy already under strain, this presents a significant challenge to growing the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). According to Occupational Care South Africa (OCSA), absenteeism costs range from R12 to R16 billion per year,…
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SA’s groundbreaking HIV research on elite controllers
South Africa, the epicentre of the HIV epidemic with 7.8 million people living with HIV, has seen remarkable progress, with 5.8 million on antiretrovirals (ARVs) achieving undetectable viral loads. A unique group, known as elite controllers, naturally maintain undetectable viral loads without treatment, comprising about 0.5% of the global HIV population. Dr Veron Ramsuran from the University of KwaZulu-Natal is…
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US pharmaceutical industry intermediaries defend their role
During a Congressional hearing, US pharmaceutical industry intermediaries defended their roles in the healthcare system. Committee members accused these intermediaries of pushing patients toward expensive treatments despite the availability of lower-cost options. A House Committee on Oversight and Accountability report released earlier that day provided evidence suggesting that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) compel drugmakers to pay rebates for placing branded…
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Gauteng Cancer Backlog: 3,000 Patients Awaiting Care
The Gauteng Health Department asserts that it has taken all necessary steps to address the backlog of cancer patients awaiting radiation therapy. Meanwhile, it accuses activists of using the courts to interfere in its operations. The Cancer Alliance, representing 30 cancer organisations, has initiated legal action. They aim to expedite the provision of radiation therapy to patients in Gauteng. The…
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SA to roll out CAB-LA injection by year-end
By the end of this year, 867 government health facilities in South Africa will start offering the two-monthly HIV prevention injection, CAB-LA, using 96,000 doses donated by the US government. This injection, which gradually releases the antiretroviral drug cabotegravir over two months, has been shown to virtually eliminate the risk of contracting HIV through sexual intercourse. A 2022 study published…
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President’s legacy in the balance as healthcare reforms loom
President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered another hopeful opening of Parliament speech, echoing his promises since 2018. His speech, filled with empathy and understanding, included commitments on various fronts, particularly healthcare. Ramaphosa acknowledged the struggles of ordinary South Africans who spend hours in queues at healthcare facilities like Steve Biko or Jubilee hospitals in Tshwane and the severely under-resourced hospitals in the…
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Ramaphosa pushes ahead with NHI despite strong opposition
President Cyril Ramaphosa is advancing the implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI) despite strong objections from the DA and various stakeholders. In his address at the opening of Parliament, Ramaphosa announced that the seventh administration would continue with the NHI rollout, expressing confidence in securing buy-in from opposing parties. Opponents of the NHI include the DA, which is co-governing with…