A critical legal dispute is unfolding in South Africa’s private healthcare sector. Medscheme has filed an urgent application with the Johannesburg High Court to suspend or terminate several Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued by Bonitas Medical Fund. Furthermore, the dispute signals deepening tensions between long-standing partners in the administration of the country’s second-largest open medical scheme. Medscheme Bonitas Legal Battle…
Category: December 2025
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NHLS Cancer Test Outsourcing Hits R116m As Backlog Cleared
South Africa’s National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) spent approximately R116 million between June and November 2025 to outsource cancer pathology tests to private providers. The emergency measure came in response to a national outcry over dangerous delays in public diagnostic services. NHLS Cancer Test Outsourcing Clears Critical Backlog The crisis intensified at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH), where…
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AfroCentric Divests Activo Health In Strategic Shift Toward Services
AfroCentric Investment Corporation, a Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed healthcare firm, has announced the sale of its pharmaceutical unit, Activo Health, to Portuguese pharmaceutical giant FHC Group. This sale marks a pivotal shift in AfroCentric’s operational focus. The group is moving away from pharmaceutical manufacturing and marketing. AfroCentric Divests Activo Health In Portfolio Overhaul AfroCentric’s subsidiary, ACT Healthcare Assets, entered into an…
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Global Malaria Crisis Deepens Amid US Cuts, Rising Resistance
The global malaria crisis is facing a severe and potentially irreversible setback, according to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) latest report. Progress in fighting the disease has stagnated since 2015, and by 2024, key indicators show a dramatic regression that experts are calling catastrophic. Global Malaria Crisis Escalates With Alarming Statistics In 2024, malaria infected 282 million people and killed…
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Dis-Chem’s Personalised Healthcare Strategy Redefines Retail
South Africa’s healthcare retail sector is undergoing a bold transformation, with Dis-Chem leading the charge. In a strategic pivot from traditional marketing, Dis-Chem is embracing personalised healthcare to position itself as a fully integrated, tech-driven healthcare provider. This move redefines the pharmacy model, bringing together data, artificial intelligence (AI), and behavioural insights to deliver tailored experiences for every customer. Better…
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Aspen APAC Divestment Unlocks R26.5 Billion For GLP-1 Focus
Shares in Aspen Pharmacare soared by more than 20% at the close of December, following a major strategic pivot. Africa’s largest drugmaker announced a landmark agreement to sell its entire Asia-Pacific (APAC) operations – excluding China – to Australia’s BGH Capital for A$2.37 billion (around R26.5 billion). The Aspen APAC divestment comes after an unsolicited offer from the private equity…
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GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Reshape Obesity Care In South Africa
South Africa’s fight against obesity has entered a decisive phase, driven by a surge in the medicalisation of treatment through GLP-1 weight loss drugs. In early 2026, two major medications, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide), have received key regulatory approvals, marking a new chapter in primary healthcare. With nearly 4.5 million South African adults living with obesity, the shift comes…
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America First Health Funding Strategy Faces East African Test
Uganda has signed a landmark $1.7 billion health sector funding agreement with the United States. This makes it the latest African nation to adopt the America First health funding framework. East Africa now serves as the testing ground for this strategic shift in US global health policy, which emphasises national co-financing, data transparency, and US procurement of goods. Meanwhile, legal…
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Medical Tax Credits Debate Sparks Warnings From Policy Experts
The ongoing Medical Tax Credits debate in South Africa has taken a sharp turn. Leading health policy experts push back against calls to eliminate medical tax credits (MTCs) to fund the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. Professor Alex van den Heever of the Wits School of Governance and Dr Max Price, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, have…
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Motsoaledi Defends NHI Amid Legal Challenges And Criticism
South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has launched a strong defence of the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. He positions it as a moral and practical necessity for achieving universal health coverage. Speaking in Pretoria during a Universal Health Coverage Day event, Motsoaledi took aim at critics. He rejected allegations of judicial bias against the policy. International health institutions partnered…
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HIV Prevention in SA Needs Local Lenacapavir Manufacturing
South Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its long battle against HIV. While the country has made remarkable strides since the mass rollout of antiretrovirals, boosting rural life expectancy by over 10 years, a new medical innovation could accelerate progress even further. Experts warn that unless stakeholders prioritise local manufacturing, the drug’s full potential for HIV prevention may remain…
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Spar’s Pharmacy Expansion Targets Health-Conscious Shoppers
Spar’s pharmacy expansion marks a bold strategic shift by the retail group. They seek to capture a growing market of health-conscious consumers. In a move to diversify beyond groceries and basic medication, Spar is investing in a bespoke wellness concept. This aims to reshape the pharmacy front-shop experience. CEO Angelo Swartz confirmed that modern customers are seeking more than just…