The legal battle to introduce more affordable private healthcare for millions of South Africans has received a significant boost. This comes after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) agreed to hear arguments from the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF). The decision opens the door for the BHF to appeal a previous High Court ruling. This ruling blocked the introduction of…
Tag: healthcare
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Limpopo Health Budget Under Siege by Legal Claims
The Limpopo Department of Health is teetering on the brink of a financial catastrophe. Actual and potential medico-legal claims necessitate an allocation of an astounding R12.7 billion. This is just under half of its R26.1 billion annual budget. This figure highlights a crisis in the province’s healthcare system. As a result, the provincial government diverts critical funds away from essential…
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Netcare’s mental health services in high demand
Private hospital group Netcare has highlighted a continued and robust demand for mental healthcare services across South Africa. This signals a growing public health concern as more individuals seek help for conditions previously shrouded in stigma. The report comes amidst wider calls for systemic reform to address the nation’s deepening mental health crisis. In a recent trading update, Netcare confirmed…
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Tembisa Hospital Corruption Investigation Findings
A sprawling web of organised corruption has systematically looted an estimated R2 billion from Tembisa Hospital. This has transformed the public healthcare facility into a captured state economy, exploited by criminal syndicates and corrupt officials. An explosive interim report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) details a coordinated scheme. It implicates rogue officials from both the hospital and the Gauteng…
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Precision Medicine: Transforming Treatment Approaches
A quiet revolution is reshaping healthcare, shifting the focus from merely managing symptoms to fundamentally altering the course of complex diseases. At the forefront of this evolution are two critical fields: precision medicine in oncology and groundbreaking new treatments for severe mental health conditions like schizophrenia and treatment-resistant depression. These advancements signal a move away from one-size-fits-all approaches and towards…
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NHLS Cancer Testing Delays Outsourcing Solutions
The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) has confirmed it is engaging private sector laboratories to address a critical backlog in cancer testing at its Johannesburg facility. This backlog has left some public healthcare patients waiting as long as three months for potentially life-saving diagnostic results. The NHLS, which forms the diagnostic backbone of the nation’s public health system, is facing…
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Upfront Medical Aid Payments a Growing Concern
Upfront medical aid payments cost members of medical aid schemes a staggering R43 billion last year. This is a situation the industry regulator says is causing significant financial hardship and worsening health inequalities. The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) revealed the figure in its 2023-24 industry report. It highlights a system where members are increasingly shouldering costs that they expect…
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Kempton Park Hospital Security Under Public Scrutiny
The Gauteng health department is under fire for spending more than R35 million on security guards at the derelict Kempton Park Hospital. This facility has stood empty and abandoned for nearly three decades. Despite the exorbitant cost of Kempton Park Hospital’s security, the building has been ravaged by vandals. It has been stripped of its fittings and covered in graffiti,…
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Discovery Group’s Strong Growth Delivers 30% Profit Surge
Discovery Group has reported a robust financial performance for the year ending in June. It showcased the Discovery Group’s strong growth with a 30% increase in headline earnings to R9.6 billion. A key milestone in the results was Discovery Bank achieving its first profitable period in the second half of the year. This was a significant achievement reached ahead of…
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Shortage of Medical Specialists in KZN Creating Waiting Lists
An alarming shortage of medical specialists across KwaZulu-Natal’s major government hospitals is creating a public health crisis. Tens of thousands of patients face dangerously long waiting times for critical care. The situation poses a “serious risk” to the public, according to Dr Imran Keeka, the DA’s spokesperson on health in the KZN legislature. Recent replies from Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane…
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‘Certificate of Need’ Faces Constitutional Court Battle
The future of where doctors can practise and where hospitals can be built in South Africa hangs in the balance. The Constitutional Court is considering the validity of the controversial “Certificate of Need” (CoN) provisions within the National Health Act. The top court heard arguments on Tuesday regarding a law that could force medical professionals to work in underserved rural…