In a move putting children’s lives at risk, the US government has announced its intention to cut funding for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. It is a key organisation credited with saving millions of lives through childhood immunisation. The decision comes at a critical time, as rising vaccine hesitancy contributes to a resurgence of preventable diseases like measles worldwide. The proposed…
Category: September 2025
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Compulsory Medical Aid for MPs: ActionSA’s Proposal
In a bold move to ensure public representatives experience the same healthcare realities as the citizens they serve, ActionSA MP Kgosi Letlape has announced plans to introduce the Parliamentary and Provincial Medical Aid Scheme Amendment Bill. This proposed legislation aims to abolish compulsory membership of the Parliamentary Medical Aid Scheme (Parmed) for Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of Provincial Legislatures,…
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Florida’s ‘Vaccine War’ Sparks Outrage and Debate
Florida is becoming the new epicentre of America’s “vaccine wars.” This follows Governor Ron DeSantis’s announcement to eliminate all vaccine mandates for schoolchildren. The plan has ignited immediate and fierce opposition from political rivals and the medical community. The move, if successful, would make Florida the largest US state to dismantle long-standing public health requirements for immunisations. The controversial proposal…
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Gilead’s Lenacapavir to Reach High-Burden Nations ‘At Cost’
The US government and Gilead Sciences have announced a landmark plan to supply the long-acting HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, at cost to high-burden countries. This initiative aims to protect 2 million people via PEPFAR and The Global Fund. In a major step forward for global public health, the United States State Department announced a groundbreaking plan on Thursday. The aim…
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HIV Prevention Injection Changes the Game in Treatment
South Africa will introduce a new lenacapavir injection. This twice-yearly shot is for HIV prevention. It will be in select public clinics by April 2026. This marks a big step forward for the nation. It offers a great alternative to daily pills. However, another injectable, cabotegravir, is stalled. It had a four-year head start. The availability of a new HIV…
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Western Cape’s NHI Challenge going to the Constitutional Court
The Western Cape government has launched a direct Constitutional Court challenge against the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. The government argues Parliament failed its duty to ensure adequate public participation. Discover the details of this major legal battle. The Western Cape government has formally lodged a direct application with the Constitutional Court. They seek to have the controversial National Health…
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Aspen Unlocking Value with New Manufacturing Strategies
Aspen Pharmacare’s CEO, Stephen Saad, has declared that all hands are on deck to overhaul the group’s manufacturing business. He identified the performance of its sterile unit as a significant drag on earnings. This underperformance has caused the market to undervalue the company. This move is part of Aspen’s effort to unlock value for its stakeholders and enhance its market…
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Discovery Profit Surge Indicates Strong Growth Ahead
Financial services giant Discovery Group has signalled a significant increase in profits for the year to end-June. Its banking division reached a significant profitability milestone after years of investment. This achievement contributes to the Discovery Profit Surge. In a trading statement released ahead of its full-year results, the group announced it expects a robust performance across all its business units.…
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South Africa’s Ambulance Crisis: A Public Health Emergency
Citizens are dangerously exposed during emergencies. The National Department of Health reports a major deficit. This is South Africa’s ambulance crisis. It has tragic consequences for patients. The Shocking Scale of South Africa’s Ambulance Crisis The country needs 6,228 public ambulances. This is based on its population of 62 million. The current fleet only has 4,007 vehicles. This represents a…
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Rare Fungal Infection Poses New Threat in South Africa
Doctors in Bloemfontein have confirmed a new case. It is the first of its kind in the region. This rare fungal infection is very aggressive. Researchers found it in a severely immunocompromised patient. This poses a new and dangerous threat. A team from UFS and NHLS found the case. It is a world-first in an HIV-positive person. Health officials say…
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HIV Prevention Injection Changes the Game in Treatment
South Africa will introduce a groundbreaking twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, lenacapavir, in select public clinics by April 2026. This move marks a significant step forward in the nation’s fight against HIV, offering a highly effective and convenient alternative to daily pills. However, this progress comes as another long-acting injectable, cabotegravir (CAB-LA), remains stalled despite having a four-year head start. The…
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Albert Luthuli Hospital Crisis: Lives at Risk
Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital is collapsing. The hospital is a cornerstone of KZN specialist healthcare. Senior doctors warn surgical capacity has plummeted by 60%. An exodus of specialists is crippling the facility. Its ICUs are critically understaffed. There is a severe shortage of essential supplies. Insiders describe an “austerity-fuelled” and life-threatening Albert Luthuli Hospital crisis. Doctors spoke on condition…