Category: October 2024

Last month, I visited a nearby CVS, rolled up my sleeve and got the latest COVID-19 vaccine. Curious about how many others were doing the same, I went online to check the numbers. The results were grim: fewer than 5% of US adults have received the newest COVID. Analysts from Jefferies predict this year’s COVID immunisation rate will be even…

A recent survey by the SA Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) reveals that three-quarters of workers think about work constantly, even in their free time. The survey highlights significant work-related stressors, with more than a third of respondents worried about losing their jobs. The study, conducted among Sadag’s online community, offers valuable insight into the pressure employees face across various…

In the fight against cancer, the impact of technological advancements and collaborative efforts cannot be overstated. In a decade marked by personal tragedy, the need for innovative solutions in cancer care has never been more urgent. Can artificial intelligence (AI) advancements and public-private partnerships (PPPs) be the answer to Africa’s escalating cancer burden? Cancer continues to be a leading cause…

The scale of medical negligence claims against the Gauteng health department has skyrocketed, with a staggering 36% increase in payouts in the past year. According to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, figures presented to parliament reveal that Gauteng paid R696 million in 2023/24, a sharp rise from the R512 million paid the previous year. This troubling increase underscores the ongoing challenges…

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has every reason to call out unscrupulous lawyers who concoct fraudulent medical negligence claims or pocket large portions of compensation meant for victims of medical errors and neglect. These exploitative practices not only drain the public health sector’s resources but also undermine the genuine claims of those truly harmed by substandard care. However, the minister also…

The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has released its Annual Report for the 2023/24 financial year, reflecting its unwavering commitment to its vision and mission in a challenging macroeconomic environment. Despite pressures in the healthcare sector, the CMS protects the interests of over nine million medical scheme beneficiaries across South Africa, maintaining its pivotal role in regulating the private healthcare…

US scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNA and its vital role in gene regulation. This discovery has revolutionised our understanding of how multicellular organisms grow and develop. The Nobel Assembly lauded the duo’s research for uncovering a new class of tiny RNA molecules, pivotal in…

As healthcare costs surge, Bestmed Medical Scheme, South Africa’s fourth-largest open medical scheme, has expressed concern about rising medical scheme contributions driving support for National Health Insurance (NHI). Bestmed, with over 100,000 main members, has proposed an average contribution increase of 12.75% for 2025, pending approval from the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS). Bestmed CEO Leo Dlamini warned that these…

Two drug rehab centres managed by Life Nkanyisa in Randfontein and Witpoort have closed after the Gauteng Department of Social Development withdrew funding. These centres, which had a combined capacity of 606 beds for in-patient rehabilitation and 144 beds for halfway house programmes, were the most extensive substance abuse treatment facilities funded by the department. The closure has left a…

Over the past decade, colorectal cancer rates have risen significantly among adults aged 25 to 49 in 24 countries, including the UK, US, France, and Canada. This alarming trend was revealed by an international team, including researchers from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), at the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) congress in Geneva…

People living with HIV who remain on treatment now have a life expectancy comparable to HIV-negative individuals, thanks to improved, simplified antiretroviral therapy (ART) over the last 30 years. Despite progress, HIV remains a leading cause of premature death in sub-Saharan Africa, with disengagement from ART being a significant issue. In South Africa, 6.1 million people are on ART, but…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted emergency use authorisation for Abbott Laboratories’ new mpox diagnostic test, the Alinity m MPXV assay. This is the first such approval by the agency as part of efforts to enhance testing capabilities in countries experiencing outbreaks of mpox. The Alinity m MPXV assay is a real-time PCR test to detect mpox virus DNA…