Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has begun fresh engagement with one of his fiercest critics on the National Health Insurance (NHI). He met with the South African Medical Association (Sama) recently to discuss what he called “things we have in common”, despite Sama being among the organisations challenging the National Health Insurance Act in court. The NHI aims to establish a…
Category: March 2026
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Cardio-Oncologist Shortage Hits Cancer Care
South Africa is recording a steady rise in cancer diagnoses, with more than 100,000 new cases reported each year. An ageing population is a major driver. Lifestyle risks are adding to the trend. That growing burden is falling on a health system already under pressure in both public and private care. A less visible threat is also building. South Africa’s…
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Healthcare Funding Hiatus Forces A Harder NHI Conversation
South Africa’s healthcare debate is changing. With the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act stuck in legal processes and no clear healthcare funding pathway emerging from the 2026 Budget, the focus is moving from big promises to a tougher, present-day question: how do we fund care now, and what trade-offs will the system accept? That shift puts medical schemes back at…
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George Mukhari Patient Death Exposes System Failures
South Africa’s public mental health system is back in the spotlight after the Health Ombud released findings into the George Mukhari Hospital death of 35-year-old Lerato Mohlamme, a psychiatric patient. She died from burn injuries after a fire at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH) in June 2024. The report paints a picture of routine cruelty and dangerous neglect. It…
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Obesity as a Chronic Disease: SA Pushes for Treatment Access
South Africa’s healthcare sector is stepping up calls to treat obesity as a chronic disease rather than a cosmetic concern. Clinicians and industry leaders say the shift is urgent. Obesity is rising fast. It also drives long-term costs across the health system. Globally, more than 1 billion people live with obesity. That figure is forecast to reach 1.91 billion by…
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The Depression Treatment Gap affects Millions in South Africa
New modelling suggests South Africa’s depression burden remains large, even as prevalence has edged down slightly over two decades. One important issue is the depression treatment gap, which still affects many living with the condition. Estimates indicate depression among people aged 15 and older fell from about 5.1% in 2002 to 4.5% in 2024. That still translates to more than…
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Momentum Bonitas Deal Impacts Medical Aid Landscape
Momentum’s latest results point to a group that is gaining confidence in a tough insurance market. The standout move is operational, not financial. The Momentum Bonitas Deal means that, from June, Momentum will become the administrator of Bonitas, South Africa’s second-largest open medical aid scheme. It is described as the biggest medical scheme transfer in the country to date. This…
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Non-Invasive Colon Cancer Test Could Speed Diagnosis
A new screening approach being developed by scientists in China and the UK could change how colorectal cancer is detected, especially in health systems with limited access to colonoscopy. The innovation is a Non-Invasive Colon Cancer Test that analyses volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the vapour trapped above bowel faeces. The aim is simple. Identify higher-risk patients quickly, then prioritise…
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Deepfake X-Ray Images Expose New Clinical Risk
AI-generated “deepfake” radiographs are now realistic enough to mislead clinicians and some of the very AI tools designed to support imaging workflows. That is the warning from a new study in Radiology, published on 24 March 2026, which tested how well radiologists could spot synthetic X-rays mixed into a clinical-style reading exercise. Researchers asked 17 radiologists from 12 hospitals across…
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SA Mortality Report Highlights Non-Communicable Diseases
The recently released SA Mortality Report highlights that South Africa recorded 476,751 deaths in 2023, down from 492,417 in 2022. The drop continues a steady recovery from the Covid-era shock. In 2021, deaths surged to 623,135 during the pandemic peak. The figures come from Statistics South Africa’s Mortality and Causes of Death report. The data is drawn from the civil…
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Section 59 Investigation: CMS Promises Binding Fraud Code
South Africa’s medical schemes regulator says it will implement the recommendations of the Section 59 Investigation into alleged discrimination against black healthcare providers. The commitment was made during parliamentary scrutiny of stalled reforms linked to both the Section 59 process and the Health Market Inquiry (HMI). The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) launched the investigation after complaints from black providers…
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NHI Act Implementation Paused but Political Signals Stay Mixed
A growing chorus of clinicians and analysts warns that the government is advancing South Africa’s National Health Insurance plan in a form that fails to address the country’s deepest health system issues. Joburg paediatrician Simon Strachan says doctors feel “frustrated and desperate” because the state has sidelined their practical input, despite its central role in any workable reform. Uncertainty surged…