The public health system is facing a severe crisis, gripped by uncertainty and despair. This occurs five months after the withdrawal of approximately R7 billion in annual US aid. This has resulted in a funding gap that exacerbates the situation further. The government’s extended silence on a recovery plan has left healthcare workers and civil society organisations demanding immediate action.…
Category: July 2025
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SA Scientists Pioneer Nanotech Therapy for Lethal Melanoma
In a significant medical breakthrough, scientists from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) have developed a novel therapy for melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. The innovative treatment combines advanced nanotechnology with a natural compound found in turmeric. This combination provides a powerful, targeted attack directly to cancer cells. The research by Wits University’s Advanced Drug Delivery Platform…
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Medicaid Coverage slashed by US Bill
Leading healthcare organisations have strongly condemned the passage of a major tax-cut and spending bill in the United States, due to proposed Medicaid cuts that directly impact Medicaid coverage. They warn that drastic changes to the nation’s healthcare safety net will cause widespread harm, leaving millions of Americans without medical coverage. Republicans passed a controversial bill late last week focused…
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Dis-Chem Grapples with Retail Squeeze and Fierce Competition
Pharmacy and retail giant Dis-Chem is facing a dual threat to its growth ambitions: a critical shortage of suitable retail space. Additionally, the company disclosed in its latest annual report that there is intensifying competition across the healthcare and consumer sectors. The group identified the limited availability of profitable locations as a key risk to its core expansion strategy. This…
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Medihelp denies funding for child with Hunter Syndrome
A landmark case before the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has highlighted a critical conflict. This is between a medical scheme’s financial health and its obligation to fund life-saving treatment. It has left a young boy’s future in jeopardy. The appeals committee decided that the Medihelp Medical Scheme does not have to fund a vital drug for a six-year-old boy.…
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NHS Overhaul: A 10-Year Strategy for UK Healthcare
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled a comprehensive 10-year strategy aimed at revitalising the National Health Service. He described the NHS as being in crisis. This NHS overhaul focuses on alleviating the immense pressure on overstrained hospitals. It will do this by providing more care closer to people’s homes. This marks a significant policy move one year into his…
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Childhood Obesity: Addressing Lifestyle Diseases Early
**Focus Keywords:** Childhood obesity South Africa, child health, lifestyle diseases, hypertension in children, SAMRC study, healthy eating for kids A devastating childhood obesity crisis is leading to children, some as young as five, developing severe lifestyle-related diseases. These are typically found in middle-aged adults, a new study from South Africa has revealed. Poor eating habits and a lack of physical…
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Union Vows Protests as 150 KZN Doctors Remain Jobless
The Public Servants Association (PSA) has pledged to intensify protest action. This will continue until the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health absorbs every qualified but unemployed doctor into the provincial system. This highlights a growing crisis that leaves critical posts vacant while medical professionals are without work. The influential union is backing more than 150 doctors. These doctors, after completing their…
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USAID Funding Cuts Could Trigger 14 Million Deaths by 2030
Deep and ongoing USAID funding cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID), coupled with its potential dismantling, could result in more than 14 million additional deaths across the globe by 2030. This is according to new research. The study, published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet on Monday, 30 June, highlights the catastrophic human cost of the…
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New COVID-19 Variant No Threat to South Africa
While the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided from its peak, the virus continues to circulate and evolve globally. The recent designation of a new variant, NB.1.8.1, by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has sparked online discussion. South Africa’s leading scientists are urging calm while highlighting a more pressing local issue: vaccine accessibility. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed…