The Black Pharmaceutical Industry Association (BPIA) has now joined the increasing criticism directed at the Department of Health. The advocacy group comprises more than 22 black-owned businesses, including manufacturers, wholesalers, and pharmacies. This highlights the important and growing role that Black-owned pharmaceutical companies play in the healthcare sector. It cautions that local suppliers are being severely restricted due to the…
Tag: Healthcare Business
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Contraceptive Shortages Hit South African Healthcare
South Africa is facing severe supply constraints of several widely used birth control brands. Manufacturing disruptions at Aspen Pharmacare have triggered these stockouts. The Department of Health and the major pharmacy chain Clicks confirmed the disruption this week. The supply gap impacts both state-subsidised clinics and private pharmacies. Key oral contraceptives like Triphasil, Nordette, and Microval are currently difficult to…
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Child Stunting Risks Threaten South Africa’s 2030 Goals
Children living in poorly serviced informal settlements face severe health threats. Repeated infections caused by unhygienic living conditions are drastically increasing their vulnerability to development issues. The DG Murray Trust has issued an urgent warning to the healthcare sector. South Africa’s national goal to end child stunting by 2030 hangs in the balance. The non-profit organisation stresses that all spheres…
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Dis-Chem Franchise Expansion Targets 500 Stores
Dis-Chem is accelerating its wholesale-brand franchise network. Management says its independent pharmacy platform, The Local Choice (TLC), could eventually grow to 500 stores. This aggressive push highlights the ongoing consolidation in South Africa’s independent pharmacy sector. In the year to February, the number of TLC franchise stores increased to 280 from 240. The number of independent pharmacies supplied by Dis-Chem…
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SA Pharma Localisation Faces Foreign Investor Pressure
South Africa’s pharmaceutical sector has become a major industrial battleground. The government is pushing hard to localise production and boost public procurement. It also wants to rebuild domestic capacity. However, outside forces are complicating these goals. Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau delivered this warning at a recent stakeholder engagement. He noted that foreign investors remain highly interested in…
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Life Healthcare Expansion Plans Add Beds And Specialists
Private hospital group Life Healthcare is moving forward with strategic growth initiatives. The JSE-listed company intends to expand capacity, open a new hospital, and recruit more specialists. These Life Healthcare expansion plans aim to significantly boost occupancy rates across all its medical facilities. Strategic Asset Growth And Infrastructure Investments The company will continue to grow its underlying asset base in…
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Charlotte Maxeke Hospital Repairs Slated For August Completion
The long-running reconstruction project at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital is finally nearing completion. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced that the core repair work is expected to wrap up in August. This milestone comes more than five years after a devastating fire crippled key sections of the vital facility. Minister Motsoaledi visited the site yesterday to inspect the progress. He…
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Charlotte Maxeke Hospital Repairs: A Delayed Recovery
Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka has proposed decisive remedial action regarding the lengthy delay in Charlotte Maxeke Hospital repairs. This intervention deserves strong public support. Crucially, it targets deep-seated weaknesses in Gauteng’s infrastructure delivery system. A devastating fire damaged the facility in April 2021. This disaster affected critical sections of one of the most vital public healthcare hubs in Gauteng. Years…
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GEMS Solvency Ratio Projected To Fall Below Legal Limit
The Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) expects its financial reserves to be severely strained over the next 18 months. According to newly updated internal projections, the GEMS Solvency Ratio is highly likely to plunge below the statutory minimum requirement of 25%. This may occur by the end of 2026. This looming regulatory non-compliance comes after the scheme’s management capitulated to…
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SA HIV Treatment Programme Faces Historic Slowdown
South Africa’s massive HIV response has hit a significant roadblock. The country’s leading mathematical tool for tracking HIV trends, the Thembisa model, has released its latest estimates. They reveal that the South African HIV treatment programme recorded its slowest annual growth in two decades. Between 2024 and 2025, the number of people receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) increased by just 40,000.…
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Doctor Entrepreneurship Programme To Launch In SA
South Africa stands poised for a significant shift in medical service delivery. The government launches a new national initiative this month. This initiative aims to transform medical doctors into savvy business owners and healthcare innovators. The doctor entrepreneurship programme is led by the Regenesys School of Entrepreneurship. The Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) delivers this initiative.…
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Gauteng Surgical Backlog Reforms Target 36,000 Waiting List
The Gauteng Department of Health has launched a comprehensive strategy to overhaul surgical waiting times across the province. This initiative specifically addresses the Gauteng surgical backlog, with the public healthcare system grappling with over 30,600 patients awaiting surgery. While the figures are significant, officials maintain that these numbers reflect years of accumulated pressure rather than a sudden breakdown. The system…