The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed it will officially launch criminal proceedings against officials linked to the Life Esidimeni tragedy. This landmark decision marks a significant turning point in a long-running quest for accountability within the South African healthcare sector. Formal Charges Following Systemic Failures NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago announced on Monday that the state will pursue charges including…
Tag: Patient Safety
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George Mukhari Patient Death Exposes System Failures
South Africa’s public mental health system is back in the spotlight after the Health Ombud released findings into the George Mukhari Hospital death of 35-year-old Lerato Mohlamme, a psychiatric patient. She died from burn injuries after a fire at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH) in June 2024. The report paints a picture of routine cruelty and dangerous neglect. It…
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Health Ombud Findings Expose Patient Safety Failures in Gauteng
South Africa’s Health Ombud, Professor Taole Mokoena, has released findings into two separate patient deaths in Tshwane. These findings point to serious breakdowns in safety systems, clinical governance and accountability across both public and private care settings. The first investigation centres on the June 2024 death of 35-year-old psychiatric patient Lerato Mohlamme at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital near Ga-Rankuwa.…
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Animal Testing Alternatives: New FDA Guidance Insights
US regulators are stepping up efforts to reduce animal use in early drug development. On 18 March 2026, the US Food and Drug Administration issued draft guidance encouraging companies to swap or reduce animal studies where credible human-relevant tools exist. This marks an important recognition of the growing range of animal testing alternatives available to researchers. The FDA says a…
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NHLS TrakCare Outage Exposes Backup Power Gaps
South Africa’s National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) reported an ongoing disruption to its TrakCare information system. The outage left health professionals across the public sector unable to access patient results, disrupting routine care and time-critical decision-making. The NHLS provides diagnostic pathology services nationwide. It supports public facilities through a network of more than 300 laboratories. Because public sector clinicians rely…
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Medical Negligence Compensation Reform Impacts on Budgets
South Africa’s system for compensating victims of medical negligence is under severe pressure. Nowhere is that clearer than in the Eastern Cape. The province paid out more than R630m in medical negligence claims in the 2024/25 financial year. That is about 2% of its R30.1bn budget. The Eastern Cape governent didn’t plan for these payouts, and the result is predictable.…
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Bogus Doctors in focus as HPCSA Warns on Rising Fraud
The Health Professions Council of South Africa HPCSA is warning that unregistered practitioners are putting lives at risk. New cases of “bogus doctors” continue to surface. “If you’re in the hands of an unqualified person, you’re as well as dead,” says. The council is responsible for registering medical doctors and other health professionals. It also investigates complaints about practitioners practising…
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Gauteng Health Turmoil as MEC Backs Tainted Department Head
Renewed scrutiny dogs Gauteng health’s leadership after Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko publicly defended her former head of department (HOD), Lesiba Malotana, despite a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) lifestyle audit flagging him as “high risk.”This situation highlights the Gauteng Health Turmoil as the province faces pressure over both governance and patient care. Additionally, it adds fuel to an already heated political…
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Competency-Based Medical Curriculum: A Critical Review
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has issued a stern warning. It concerns the implementation of a new training model launched by the World Health Organisation (WHO). SAMA argues that speed should not come at the expense of patient safety. Following the WHO Regional Office for Africa’s launch of a new competency-based medical curriculum, SAMA has cautioned against viewing the…
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Gauteng Patients Face Alarming Spike in Adverse Events
Gauteng’s public healthcare system is facing intense scrutiny. This follows the revelation that Gauteng patients suffered 7,386 Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) in state hospitals between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025. The figures, confirmed by Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, represent a troubling increase from the 7,117 incidents reported in the previous year. Despite thousands of…
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Surge in Illicit Medicines Threatens Public Health
South Africa is at a critical crossroads in its fight against a rising tide of illicit, substandard, and falsified medicines. These pose a severe threat to public health. The influx is particularly alarming in relation to GLP-1 agonists, the popular class of medicines developed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. In response to this escalating crisis, the South African…