World leaders gathered at the United Nations to renew their commitment to pandemic preparedness at the weekend. This came five years after Covid-19 exposed deep weaknesses in health systems, surveillance and global co-operation. The high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response took place at UN headquarters in New York. Countries were expected to reaffirm political commitments to strengthening the…
Category: September 2024
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US Healthcare Affordability Crisis Squeezes Small Employers
The healthcare affordability crisis in the United States is straining employers of every size, but it is hitting small businesses hardest. Employers expect health costs to rise by nearly 10% on average in 2027. For many small firms, the rise is expected to be roughly double, according to survey data cited in a recent commentary. Because most Americans have employer-sponsored…
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Republicans Rein in Kennedy During High-Stakes Hearing
In a significant break with the Trump administration, a high-ranking Republican senator is set to publicly scrutinise the controversial actions of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This move indicates an effort by Republicans to rein in Kennedy amid growing controversies. The move signals a growing effort within the GOP focused on reining in Kennedy and…
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Emerging XEC Covid-19 variant poses potential health risk
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has warned about the emerging Covid-19 variant, XEC. While cases of this new variant have already been reported in parts of the United States, there has not yet been a significant rise in infections within South Africa. XEC variant may pose a severe threat SAMA CEO Dr Mzulungile Theo Nodikida stated that current global…
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Challenges in training cause critical nursing shortage in SA
South Africa is experiencing a severe shortage of nurses due to an ageing workforce and challenges with the new nursing training framework. The shift towards professionalising nursing education, requiring accreditation from the South African Nursing Council (SANC) and the Council for Higher Education, has led to delays in training, contributing to fewer nurses entering the field. Private hospitals have expressed…
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What is the leading cause of death in South Africa?
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has recently listed Covid-19 as the leading cause of death for the year 2020 in their latest mortality report. The question of what causes the most deaths in South Africa isn’t straightforward and largely depends on the source of the data. Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says HIV/AIDS remains the biggest killer. According to Stats…
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The fine print matters more than you think
The fine print can make a world of difference in any transaction. Nowhere is that more true than in healthcare, where complex, often opaque contracts dictate how trillions of dollars are spent each year. These documents govern everything from how much employers and families pay for healthcare to what services they receive for their money. Why You Should Care About…
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UCT and WHO to tackle global surgical inequality
The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Global Surgery and Emergency Medicine Divisions have recently been designated as a World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre. This prestigious designation underscores UCT’s critical role in addressing global healthcare disparities, with a particular focus on surgical and emergency care in underserved populations. Nearly five billion people worldwide lack access to essential surgical services, with…
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Gauteng health introduces plan to tackle adverse events
The Gauteng Department of Health has announced a new plan to prevent unwanted outcomes at state healthcare facilities. This comes in response to alarming department figures revealing that 9,390 serious adverse events (SAEs) were recorded across hospitals and clinics in 2023 alone. Health and wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has faced growing pressure to improve patient care standards after the department…
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Are you willing to pay 30% more tax for 70% less healthcare?
The future of South Africa’s healthcare system remains a hot topic, particularly with the looming implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI). According to Adrian Gore, CEO of Discovery, the current funding model proposed for NHI will significantly impact both tax rates and healthcare coverage. His stark warning? Personal income tax may need to increase by 31%, while employed individuals may…
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Alarming Suicide Rates in Africa: Can We Reverse the Trend?
Africa has the world’s highest suicide rate, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). A complex interplay of factors, including poverty, unemployment, and limited access to mental health services, drives this alarming statistic. South Africa in crisis South Africa paints a bleak picture, ranking third in Africa with a suicide rate of 23.5 per 100,000 people. This burden falls especially…
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Discovery addresses the high cost of private healthcare
The Discovery Group has identified the rising prevalence of chronic illnesses and an ageing population as key factors driving the high cost of private healthcare in South Africa. These factors, along with other market forces, contribute significantly to medical inflation, which continues to outpace consumer price inflation (CPI). Key drivers of medical inflation According to Discovery, increasing chronicity accounts for…