Mounting criticism labels South Africa’s controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) plan not as a lifeline for a broken system. Instead, critics see it as a meticulously planned manoeuvre to centralise control over a budget exceeding R1 trillion. Opponents argue that the National Health Insurance move, disguised as universal healthcare, is nothing short of “state capture 2.0.” They warn it threatens…
Category: June 2025
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Climate Change in Africa: A Growing Health Crisis
Global health and climate experts have issued a stark warning: the escalating climate crisis is fuelling a parallel health emergency. Africa is at its epicentre. Devastating reports from The Lancet Countdown and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) reveal the severe toll on human well-being. Consequently, African nations are demanding that health be placed at the centre of global climate negotiations.…
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Twice-Yearly HIV Jab: Activists Call for Lower Prices
A groundbreaking, twice-yearly injection for HIV prevention is hailed as a potential ‘game-changer’. However, it is at the centre of a fierce debate regarding affordability. Health activists worldwide implore its manufacturer, Gilead Sciences, to prevent a “missed opportunity for achieving equity.” This twice-yearly HIV jab could revolutionise prevention efforts. But that will only occur if it becomes accessible to all.…
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HIV Prevention Strategies with Lenacapavir Injection
In a decision that could fundamentally reshape the fight against HIV, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given its approval to Gilead Sciences’ lenacapavir, a groundbreaking twice-yearly injection for preventing HIV infection in adults and adolescents. Marketed under the brand name Yeztugo in the US, this innovative drug has been eagerly anticipated by both investors and HIV/AIDS activists…
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Measles Vaccination in Gauteng is Urgently Needed
Gauteng’s health authorities are sounding the alarm as the province grapples with a significant increase in measles cases. Since the beginning of 2025, health officials have reported a worrying 181 laboratory-confirmed cases. The epicentres of the outbreak are located in Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni. It is crucial to address the importance of measles vaccination to manage the situation in Gauteng…
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Rise in Allergies Due to Climate Change Effects
The familiar misery of a runny nose, itchy eyes, and worsening asthma symptoms for hay fever sufferers is set to become even more pervasive, as experts warn of an “explosion” of allergies driven by a shifting climate. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has identified a clear link between climate change and altered patterns in pollen and spore production and distribution,…
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NHI Complaints Unit and its Centralised Approach
As South Africa moves towards the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI), specific provisions within the NHI Act regarding complaint management have become a significant point of contention. Recent court challenges have highlighted the issue. Sections 42 to 44 establish a centralised investigative unit within the NHI Fund. This unit is the exclusive authority for handling all complaints. These…
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US Aid Cuts Threaten Global HIV/AIDS Goals
The ambitious global target of eradicating HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is facing a severe setback, according to Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS. Speaking on Friday after a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Byanyima warned that US President Donald Trump’s recent cuts to foreign aid, including crucial HIV/AIDS programmes, will further derail an…
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Discovery Health Sees Membership Decline in 2024
Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) is navigating a challenging landscape. A recent annual report, released ahead of its AGM, reveals a notable decline in membership across several of its core medical plan options in 2024 compared with 2023. Nine out of the 16 core DHMS medical plan options experienced a drop in members. Seven plans saw increases. One of these…
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Counterfeit Medicine Crisis in South Africa’s Public Health System
South Africa is grappling with a quiet, yet deadly crisis: the alarming proliferation of counterfeit and substandard medicines, known as the counterfeit medicine crisis. While the nation faces ongoing health-care challenges like rising drug prices, medicine shortages, and a strained public health system, the influx of fake drugs presents a far more insidious threat. These aren’t just ineffective placebos; they…
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African Cancer Study Reveals New Genetic Links
In a significant step for global health equity, researchers at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) at the University of the Witwatersrand have uncovered two novel genetic variants. These variants increase susceptibility to breast cancer in Black South African women. This groundbreaking discovery, detailed in a study published in the journal Nature Communications, sheds new light on the…