The National Treasury’s emergency allocation to South Africa’s health sector is dangerously insufficient. It is at high risk of being diverted to pay off massive provincial debts rather than fund essential services, Parliament heard on Wednesday. Health advocates warned the select committee on appropriations that the new funds fail to close the critical health funding gap. This gap was created…
Category: November 2025
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Bonitas Faces Investigation for Procurement Irregularities
The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has officially launched a forensic investigation into Bonitas, the nation’s second-largest open medical scheme. Bonitas faces investigation over allegations of improper procurement processes related to a key contract for its low-income option. The investigation will focus specifically on a contract awarded by Bonitas to Private Health Administrators (PHA) for the administration of its Boncap…
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Medical Tax Credits Under Investigation by Treasury
The National Treasury confirmed that it is actively investigating the “number of potential implications” of limiting or entirely removing medical tax credits. Proponents have long proposed this move as a key mechanism for raising funds for the government’s sweeping National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. In a brief statement, the Treasury acknowledged it “had engagements with the Health Department” on the…
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Global Inequity Prolonging Epidemics and HIV/AIDS
Global inequalities are actively prolonging existing pandemics, such as HIV/AIDS. They are critically undermining the world’s ability to respond to future outbreaks, according to a stark new report. The report highlights how global inequity prolongs epidemics as a major issue that needs immediate attention. The report, “The Global Council on Inequality, AIDS, and Pandemics,” is an expert panel convened by…
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Aspen Pharmacare Dispute Ends with R500m Settlement
Aspen Pharmacare is set to receive a R500m windfall following the resolution of a damaging legal battle with an undisclosed manufacturing client. This closes a seven-month chapter of significant financial uncertainty for Africa’s largest pharmaceutical producer. In a statement, Aspen advised shareholders that the dispute had been settled. The counterparty is required to pay the R500m “before December 1 2025,…
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Sleep Tracking Anxiety: A Double-Edged Sword
Sleep tracking is an increasingly popular feature of fitness devices and smartwatches, with millions of users monitoring their nightly rest. However, experts warn that sleep tracking anxiety, stemming from this obsession with data, could be the very thing keeping people awake. While tracking can be beneficial, it carries significant risks for some. Professor Gosia Lipinska, a neuropsychologist at the University…