Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has launched a legal manoeuvre aimed at pausing the multiple court challenges currently facing the contentious National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. In an application to the High Court, the Health Minister is seeking to consolidate all cases. He also wants to suspend proceedings until a separate but related legal battle involving President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to…
Category: August 2025
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Vertex’s Trikafta: Addressing Drug Pricing Issues
Health activists are demanding that the Competition Commission reopen its investigation into pharmaceutical giant Vertex. They argue the company’s pricing and access strategies for its revolutionary cystic fibrosis drug, Trikafta, have created a deep and unjust divide. As a result, the treatment is out of reach for most South African patients. The commission dropped its initial probe into Vertex in…
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AI in Medicine Leads to Doctor ‘Deskilling’
Artificial intelligence, widely praised for its potential to revolutionise medicine, exemplifies the growing presence of AI in medicine. However, the impact of AI in medicine may have a significant and concerning side effect. It can cause doctors to lose their skills after just a few months of use, a new study has revealed. In groundbreaking research, scientists found that while…
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Healthcare Costs Rise with Ozempic and Wegovy
A new study has found that while weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy significantly improve health, they are also linked to a sustained increase in spending on other medical care. The study, led by Yale economics professor Jason Abaluck and published in JAMA Network Open, confirms that semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic) effectively reduces weight, blood pressure,…
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Life Healthcare Declares 235c Dividend for Investors
Private hospital group Life Healthcare has delighted investors by declaring a special cash dividend of 235c per share. This move follows the finalised disposal of the group’s entire interest in its Life Molecular Imaging (LMI) business to Lantheus Radiopharmaceuticals UK. The JSE-listed group confirmed the landmark R13.9bn deal. They committed to returning the proceeds directly to shareholders. Management anticipated closing…
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Lack of Data on Foreign Healthcare Users Exposed
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has made a startling admission. Due to a lack of data, the government has no information on the number of foreign nationals using South Africa’s public health facilities. This leaves policymakers blind to the full extent of the demand on the nation’s embattled healthcare system. This lack of data exacerbates the situation. The confession comes as…
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Vaccine Misinformation: Combating False Narratives
The Gauteng Department of Health has launched a massive vaccination campaign to curb the spread of measles and rubella. Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko issued a stern warning to parents against dangerous vaccine misinformation circulating on social media. Addressing vaccine misinformation is crucial to ensure the success of the campaign. Speaking at the campaign launch, Nkomo-Ralehoko appealed directly to parents and…
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Gates Foundation Announces $2.5bn Women’s Health Investment
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a landmark investment of $2.5 billion by 2030 to address critical gaps in women’s health. This field is one its founder, Bill Gates, says has been “neglected for too long.” The significant pledge represents a one-third increase in funding compared with the foundation’s spending on women’s and maternal health over the past…
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Gems Premium Hike: Unions Demand Single Digits
South Africa’s largest medical scheme for public servants, Gems, is facing mounting pressure from unions. They want to limit its 2026 premium increase to single digits. This follows a controversial 13.4% hike this year. Following several years of modest increases, the double-digit rise for 2025 drew strong opposition from public sector unions. These include the Public Servants Association (PSA) and…
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Cipla Medpro faces claims over side effects of antibiotic
Cipla Medpro faces claims that it failed to adequately warn patients about the potentially severe side effects of a common antibiotic. These claims arose after a Johannesburg man suffered four life-altering tendon ruptures. A man in his 40s is now considering legal action against the company. He was prescribed Tavaloxx, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, and alleges the warnings provided inside the…