Calls for drug company nationalisation have been made by the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (Giwusa). These calls follow plans by Adcock Ingram to retrench more than 240 workers. Giwusa president Mametlwe Sebei said South Africa’s pharmaceutical sector had lost about 2,500 direct jobs over the past 18 months. He noted that nine local manufacturing plants closed during…
Category: August 2026
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South Africa’s Dietary Guidelines Need Urgent Update
According to the Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN) South Africa, the country’s dietary guidelines should be updated to reflect advances in nutrition science, the rise in lifestyle diseases and the environmental impact of food systems. The country’s current guidelines have remained unchanged since 2012. In a new policy brief, PAN proposes strengthening the existing framework rather than replacing it. Recommendations…
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Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Row Deepens
The Department of Health defended its medicine procurement policies after an industry body blamed government tender practices for thousands of job losses. These job losses occurred among South African pharmaceutical manufacturers. The dispute highlights increasing tension between government efforts to support local pharmaceutical manufacturing and the need to secure affordable medicines. However, the Department of Health also needs to secure…
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Netcare AI Deterioration Algorithm Submitted To SAHPRA
Netcare has submitted its AI-powered patient deterioration algorithm to the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) for regulatory approval. The submission follows the completion of a clinical study conducted in Netcare’s intensive care and high-care units. The technology identifies early warning signs of serious clinical deterioration, allowing healthcare teams more time to intervene before a patient’s condition becomes critical.…
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Cancer Heat Therapy: R57m Public Health Rollout
A R57 million funding drive could determine whether a South African cancer treatment is adopted in the public healthcare system. Cancer heat therapy has been shown to improve survival and reduce long-term costs. Dr Carrie Minnaar, a South African researcher specialising in oncologic hyperthermia, is leading plans to install six modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) devices at three public hospitals over the…
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Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Needs Urgent Support
An industry group has warned that South Africa’s emphasis on securing the lowest possible prices for medicine is excluding local pharmaceutical companies from important state contracts. This issue highlights the challenges faced by local pharmaceutical manufacturing. In particular, they struggle to remain competitive in the market. Pharmaceuticals Made in South Africa (Pharmisa) told Parliament that the Health Department’s procurement policies…
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PEPFAR Funding Cuts Deepen Global HIV Crisis
An inaccurate map of Africa presented at the 26th International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro drew criticism. US officials incorrectly placed Mozambique in the Horn of Africa and moved Ivory Coast from West to East Africa. The mistakes damaged the goodwill built by the Trump administration’s decision to attend the conference, and officials also addressed questions about changes to…
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Charlotte Maxeke Hospital Crisis Threatens Patient Care
Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital faces growing financial and supply pressures. Insiders warn that the problems could lead to a broader breakdown in medical services. The hospital is allegedly struggling with unpaid supplier accounts, chronic stock shortages and delayed purchase orders. These challenges have reportedly affected dialysis services, intensive care treatment and major surgery. A source close to the hospital’s…
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Brics Health Cooperation Advances UHC Ambitions
Brics member states have committed to deeper healthcare collaboration after adopting the 16th Brics Health Ministers’ Declaration. The agreement builds on an earlier pledge to work collectively towards universal health coverage, or UHC. More than 70 representatives and partner organisations endorsed the declaration during a recent Brics health ministers’ meeting in Chandigarh, India. Delegates identified nine priority areas for cooperation.…