US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has set ambitious expectations for AI in healthcare, arguing it should help Americans make their own medical decisions. He wants every American to act as the chief executive of their own health, Bloomberg reported. Speaking at the MAHA Summit on Wednesday, Kennedy said doctors cannot review long medical records in short consultations. A…
Tag: Digital Health
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Netcare AI Deterioration Algorithm Submitted To SAHPRA
Netcare has submitted its AI-powered patient deterioration algorithm to the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) for regulatory approval. The submission follows the completion of a clinical study conducted in Netcare’s intensive care and high-care units. The technology identifies early warning signs of serious clinical deterioration, allowing healthcare teams more time to intervene before a patient’s condition becomes critical.…
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Brics Health Cooperation Advances UHC Ambitions
Brics member states have committed to deeper healthcare collaboration after adopting the 16th Brics Health Ministers’ Declaration. The agreement builds on an earlier pledge to work collectively towards universal health coverage, or UHC. More than 70 representatives and partner organisations endorsed the declaration during a recent Brics health ministers’ meeting in Chandigarh, India. Delegates identified nine priority areas for cooperation.…
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AI-Guided Heart Procedures Could Ease Backlogs
An artificial intelligence system used during heart procedures in the Netherlands could help hospitals shorten operating times and treat more patients. Philips DeviceGuide combines AI with advanced three-dimensional imaging. It supports doctors performing complex, minimally invasive heart procedures. The technology was demonstrated at St Antonius Hospital in Nieuwegein. The Dutch teaching hospital used the system during a transcatheter edge-to-edge repair…
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AI Healthcare Tools Cut South African Doctors’ Admin
Many South African doctors and allied healthcare workers are turning to artificial intelligence to reduce administrative pressure. Healthcare providers are using AI tools to record consultations, create clinical notes, prepare referral letters, support coding, and assist with prescriptions. These platforms use speech-to-text technology to capture consultations in real time. Many of the tools are less than two years old. Yet…
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Netcare CEO Transition: Melanie Da Costa Named Successor
Netcare has confirmed a high-profile leadership handover that will reshape the top team at one of South Africa’s biggest private healthcare groups. The JSE-listed company has appointed long-serving executive Melanie Da Costa as its next chief executive officer, with a phased transition that runs through 2026 and into 2027. Da Costa is currently Executive Director for Strategy and Health Policy.…
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AI Diagnostic Tools Outperform Doctors In Hospital Study
In a landmark experiment, South African researchers have revealed that artificial intelligence now surpasses human doctors in hospital ward diagnoses. The study took place at a large public hospital. It suggests that AI Diagnostic Tools could soon become essential for reducing the workloads of overstretched healthcare staff. While free chatbots often provide unreliable health advice, these commercially available systems proved…
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Dis-Chem Health Hub Drives Integrated Primary Care
Dis-Chem is stepping up its shift from pharmacy-led retail to wider healthcare delivery. The group says it wants to tackle South Africa’s “fragmented” healthcare system. Consumers often face rising costs. They also face long waiting times. Services can feel disconnected. The retailer’s answer is a new Dis-Chem Health Hub model. It brings multiple services into one setting. The pilot format…
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Zimbabwe National Health Strategy Aims to Transform Healthcare
Zimbabwe has taken a significant step towards reshaping its health system, launching a high-level validation workshop for its National Health Strategy 2026-2030. Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora told stakeholders the strategy arrives at a “defining moment” for the country. He urged them to view it not as a policy document, but as an actionable roadmap. Importantly, it is aligned with Zimbabwe’s…
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Digital Health Transformation: A New Era of Care
South Africa’s health system is shifting fast. Clinical demand is rising. Patient expectations are changing. Technology is now good enough to remove distance, time and cost from many first points of care. Digitisation is no longer a plan. It is already reshaping care delivery. The real question is governance. Leaders must decide whether to roll out digital health deliberately, fairly,…
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Diabetes Dashboard Launches To Speed Up Care In Public Clinics
The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) has launched a new Diabetes Dashboard to provide public health workers with near-real-time visibility into patient management across the country. According to the NHLS, the platform helps clinicians and programme managers spot poor glucose control earlier, allowing faster intervention. This tool arrives as civil society and health leaders increasingly frame diabetes as a national…
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Weight Management Spending Reshapes Household Budgets
South Africans are opening their wallets in pursuit of better health. But this is not only about occasional wellness treats. A new pattern is forming in everyday spending. Weight management is moving from a personal goal to a budget line item, according to new findings from Visa and Discovery Bank. The report shows that supplements and vitamins still account for…