Since President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Act into law in May 2024, a legal storm has erupted. At least eight different groups have filed court applications to challenge the Act, with many arguing it is unconstitutional. A core argument uniting these legal challenges is that the NHI, rather than expanding healthcare, will lead to fewer…
Tag: healthcare
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Adcock Ingram Delisting After Natco Acquisition
Pharmaceutical giant Adcock Ingram has confirmed its delisting from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) on 11 November 2025. The move marks the end of its 17-year run as a public company. This follows the finalisation of a R4.2 billion acquisition scheme by the Indian-based Natco Pharma. The company announced that it had fulfilled or waived all conditions precedent for the…
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Spar Acquires Aptekor Group in Retail Healthcare Expansion
Spar has acquired the Aptekor Group, a pharmaceutical wholesaler, in a strategic move to expand the retailer’s healthcare footprint. This is the foundational step in its ambition to create a national pharmaceutical distribution network for its Pharmacy at Spar banner. The acquisition firmly positions Spar to compete more aggressively within South Africa’s healthcare market. It provides the group with a…
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Bonitas Medical Scheme Faces Procurement Rigging Claims
Bonitas Medical Scheme, one of South Africa’s largest medical aids, manages a R20 billion fund. It is facing explosive allegations of systemic capture following the emergence of a new whistleblower report. A flash drive containing emails, draft contracts, and internal communications allegedly reveals a concerted effort. Senior executives, trustees, and favoured consultants aimed to rig procurement processes and redirect lucrative…
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Minister Defends Healthcare Amid Neurologist Shortage
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has vehemently rejected accusations that the public healthcare system has collapsed. He defended the healthcare sector amidst criticism, despite confronting staggering statistics on the dire shortage of specialists in the country. The Minister’s defence of healthcare comes in the wake of revelations that the entire province of Limpopo has only one neurologist. This has led to…
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Aspen Boosted by Mounjaro: A New Era in Weight Loss
Aspen Pharmacare’s share price saw a notable increase. This followed the announcement that the high-profile diabetes drug, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), has received approval from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) for use as a chronic weight management treatment. Aspen was notably boosted by Mounjaro’s approval, signalling a positive development for the company. The JSE-listed pharmaceutical giant confirmed that SAHPRA…
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Medical Aid Tax Credits Impact on Private Healthcare
The Department of Health is actively collaborating with the National Treasury to establish thresholds for medical aid tax credits. This signals the first concrete steps towards phasing them out to fund the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. While officials insist the initial changes will only affect high-income earners, the move has ignited fierce criticism. It has raised concerns about transparency…
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Dis-Chem Capitec Partnership Enhances Primary Healthcare
Pharmacy giant Dis-Chem has announced a strategic partnership with Capitec, set to revolutionise how consumers access and pay for healthcare. The collaboration introduces the new “Better Rewards” programme, a data-led initiative that links financial incentives directly to positive health behaviours. Unveiled this week at Dis-Chem’s X.bigly innovation hub in Melrose Arch, the programme replaces the company’s traditional loyalty model. It…
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World Mental Health Day Highlights Urgent Needs
As the world marks Mental Health Awareness Month this October, Africa stands at a critical juncture. With its population set to reach 2.5 billion in the coming decades, the continent faces a deepening mental health crisis. This crisis is chronically underfunded, under-researched, and dangerously overlooked. On this World Mental Health Day, 10th October, it is crucial to examine the scale…
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Healthcare Facilities Cheat Compliance Checks
The nation’s health standards watchdog has sounded the alarm over an increasingly common and deceptive practice. Healthcare establishments “borrow” medical equipment and essential documents from other facilities to pass inspections fraudulently. This “window dressing,” as facilities cheat compliance checks, is being driven by a rush to obtain certificates of compliance ahead of the nationwide rollout of the National Health Insurance…
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Healthcare Access: SAHRC Takes Legal Action Now
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has escalated its fight against the unlawful denial of medical treatment to foreign and undocumented individuals. They are launching an urgent application in the Durban High Court. The legal action aims to protect access to healthcare and ensure the continued availability of public health facilities. This is amidst ongoing reports of intimidation and…
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Stark Warning Against NHI: Lessons from Gauteng
Gauteng’s Department of Health is in crisis. It runs South Africa’s largest provincial health system. Its condition provides a stark warning against NHI. It highlights the significant dangers posed by the new Act. The department is plagued by mismanagement. It suffers from deep corruption and no accountability. This raises grave concerns about the state. Is it ready to manage a…