Routine opioid overprescribing after minor surgery is exposing South African patients to addiction risks, according to a columnist discharged with four pain medicines after a relatively minor operation. Experts quoted in the piece say safer, cheaper options are usually enough. The patient received Targinact, OxyNorm, Stilpane and Xefo Rapid. Each carries concerns, the writer argues, and taking all four together…
Tag: Patient Safety
-
Healthcare accountability must keep pace with AI
Healthcare accountability must advance alongside artificial intelligence (AI) and genomics to improve patient safety, former health ombud Professor Makgoba argues. In a keynote address to the South African Medico-legal Association’s annual national conference, he urged professionals to confront medical errors. He also called for an ethical framework that better reflects South Africa’s constitutional values and cultural diversity. Makgoba, a former…
-
Infection Prevention and Control Spending Rises in SA
Rising antimicrobial resistance is pushing South African and African hospitals to strengthen infection prevention and control. As a result, the sector is investing more in equipment, supplies and systems that support safer care. Hospital supplies market expands Analysts project the South African hospital supplies market will grow from roughly USD 0.96 billion in 2025 to USD 1.39 billion by 2031.…
-
Medicolegal Liability: Eastern Cape Halves Its Bill
The Eastern Cape’s estimated medicolegal liability fell from R38bn to just under R19bn over five years, according to former health department head Dr Rolene Wagner. However, analysts warn that a smaller bill does not, by itself, show that patients are safer. The province also wants to treat some children injured in public hospitals rather than pay lump sums for their…
-
Helen Joseph Hospital Staffing Crisis Disrupts Emergency Care
The staffing crisis at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg has renewed fears over patient safety while spotlighting how Gauteng manages its public healthcare workers. Trauma unit head Dr Patricia Saffy issued a notice on 6 August 2026 advising certain patients to seek emergency care elsewhere. She acted on concerns over unpaid medical staff after doctors stopped reporting for duty. Reports…
-
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.…
-
Medicine Safety Under Scrutiny after iDexis Case
Recent court proceedings involving Pretoria-based compounding pharmacy iDexis have placed semaglutide medicine safety in the spotlight. The dispute has sparked debate about access to medicines, intellectual property rights and the regulatory powers of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). It has also drawn attention to rising demand for medicines containing semaglutide. This is the active ingredient in registered…
-
Telehealth GLP-1 Prescribing Sparks Safety Fears
A Yale University study has identified serious weaknesses in how some telehealth providers prescribe GLP-1 weight-loss medications. The secret shopper study examined 49 online healthcare providers. Researchers used a fictional patient who met the clinical criteria for GLP-1 treatment. The findings suggest that several virtual clinics may be prioritising fast access to prescriptions over detailed medical care. This could expose…
-
Healthcare Access During Protests: SAMA Issues Warning
The South African Medical Association has called for stronger protection of healthcare workers and patients during anti-immigration marches expected across the country. SAMA said medical professionals must be able to work without threats, intimidation or political interference. It also stressed that all patients should be able to reach healthcare facilities safely. Access should not depend on nationality or immigration status.…
-
Unsafe Cosmetic Procedures Raise SA Health Alarm
The national Department of Health has raised concerns about unsafe cosmetic procedures taking place outside South Africa’s regulated healthcare system. Health officials warned that treatments involving unregistered practitioners or unregulated products could cause severe and potentially life-threatening complications. Department spokesperson Foster Mohale said the government does not oppose cosmetic surgery or aesthetic medicine. It recognises these procedures as healthcare services…
-
Fake Doctors In South Africa Pose Sophisticated Threat
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has raised serious concerns over the growing number of fraudulent medical practitioners. The association warns that these individuals are becoming significantly harder to detect. According to SAMA, these fraudsters use increasingly sophisticated methods to impersonate qualified professionals. Their tactics include presenting forged qualifications and falsifying registration documents. In some extreme cases, they even assume…
-
Substandard And Falsified Medicines Threaten South Africa
South Africa’s medicines watchdog is warning that Substandard And Falsified Medicines are becoming a bigger public health risk. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) says products bought outside formal channels can lead to treatment failure, serious harm, and even death. Weight-loss medicines have drawn attention in recent months. But SAHPRA stresses they are only one part of a…