Medical schemes in South Africa operate on a community-rated system, offering open enrollment where members pay the same contributions regardless of their health status or age. According to the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) 2023/24 annual report, about nine million people belong to 71 registered medical schemes. However, younger South Africans are increasingly turning to medical insurance, which offers lower…
Category: October 2024
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Addressing gaps in South Africa’s primary healthcare system
One issue remains clear amid the debate over South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI): Primary healthcare is vital for creating a sustainable and equitable health system. However, achieving this will require significant investment in workforce training, healthcare delivery, and system reform. Primary healthcare (PHC) differs from the traditional medical model in that it focuses on community involvement and addresses the…
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Rising medical costs: A warning shot for SA consumers
As South Africa’s healthcare costs continue to rise, open medical schemes have announced their contribution increases for 2025. Bestmed, Fedhealth, and Medihelp lead the pack with weighted average increases of 12.75%, 12.4%, and 10.8%, respectively. Other top schemes, such as Bonitas (10.2%), Momentum (9.4%), and Discovery (9.3%), follow closely behind. According to medical scheme administrators, several factors contribute to these…
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SA leads the world’s largest HIV prevention pill programme
By August 2024, 1.65 million HIV-negative people in South Africa had used the anti-HIV pill at least once, making it the world’s most extensive HIV prevention programme. South Africa saw 150,000 new HIV infections in 2023 and aims to reduce this number to 105,000 by 2025 to meet UNAIDS targets. The oral PrEP pill, registered in 2015, is now free…
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Six-month HIV prevention injection proven highly effective
New research has confirmed the remarkable effectiveness of a six-monthly HIV prevention injection containing the antiretroviral drug lenacapavir. The latest study, PURPOSE 2, has shown that the injection is highly effective at preventing HIV infection among cisgender men, transgender men, transgender women, and non-binary individuals assigned male at birth. These findings echo results from PURPOSE 1, which demonstrated similar success…
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The intrigue surrounding Bonitas Medical Fund
Medical schemes are designed as not-for-profits, aiming to serve the interests of their members while adhering to the Medical Schemes Act. This framework ensures fairness, transparency, and the protection of members’ contributions. However, recent revelations regarding Bonitas Medical Fund, South Africa’s second-largest open medical scheme, have raised serious questions about governance and trust. Recent disclosures suggest that some Bonitas trustees…
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Ensuring health equity in SA’s National Health Insurance
As South Africa’s Department of Health moves forward with the National Health Insurance (NHI) initiative, significant challenges remain, especially from various business interests. We must draw valuable lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure health equity for all. Key themes like market power, transparency, accountability, timely access, and affordability are crucial focus areas. During the pandemic, the prevailing doctrine of…
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Final report on racial profiling investigation delayed again
The long-awaited final report from the Section 59 Investigation Panel, appointed by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) to probe allegations of racial profiling and discrimination by medical schemes and their administrators, has been delayed once again. The CMS now anticipates the report’s release by the end of the year, following ongoing challenges beyond its control. Initially launched in 2019…
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Health Minister addresses community service shortfall
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has reassured parliament that the shortfall in community service positions for medical graduates and supplementary healthcare disciplines will be addressed by converting surplus posts in other fields. This step is crucial as community service is mandatory for medical graduates in South Africa, allowing them to register with professional bodies and practice independently. Community Service Shortage for…
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Transforming vaccine manufacture in Africa
The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is spearheading the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM) to transform Africa’s ability to locally manufacture and procure essential medicines, vaccines, and public health supplies. The mechanism will become operational within the next three to five years. APPM’s goal is to secure sustainable and self-sufficient vaccine production across the continent. This…
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Pepfar pushes US Congress for five-year re-authorisation
John Nkengasong, head of the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), has prioritised convincing the US Congress to return to the programme’s traditional five-year reauthorisation. Pepfar, established by former President George W. Bush in 2003, is a crucial funding source for HIV/Aids programmes in countries hardest hit by the epidemic, including South Africa. For 20 years, Pepfar enjoyed broad bipartisan support in Congress, with…
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Can Eli Lilly become a trillion-dollar pharma giant?
Novo Nordisk may have ignited the weight-loss drug frenzy with Ozempic, but Eli Lilly is hot on its heels, aiming to dominate this lucrative market. However, the company faces significant hurdles on its path to pharmaceutical dominance. The demand for Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drugs, particularly Mounjaro and Zepbound, is skyrocketing. With an estimated 100 million Americans and 1 billion individuals…