South Africa’s diabetes burden is moving from “silent epidemic” to loud national emergency. Amanda Mashego, diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes six years ago, describes daily management as a 24-hour job with no breaks. Every meal, mood shift, and exercise session requires constant calculation. Yet she says the mental load remains largely unseen by the healthcare system. That invisible workload is…
Tag: primary healthcare
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Intercare CEO Hendri Hanekom to Lead Strategic Expansion
Intercare, a private healthcare provider, has announced its first leadership transition in 25 years. The company has appointed Hendri Hanekom as the new CEO, effective from 1 April. Hanekom is a veteran of the organisation. He has spent nearly 18 years with the company. His journey is a testament to internal growth and dedication. He began his career in entry-level…
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Healthcare Funding Hiatus Forces A Harder NHI Conversation
South Africa’s healthcare debate is changing. With the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act stuck in legal processes and no clear healthcare funding pathway emerging from the 2026 Budget, the focus is moving from big promises to a tougher, present-day question: how do we fund care now, and what trade-offs will the system accept? That shift puts medical schemes back at…
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NHI Act Implementation Paused but Political Signals Stay Mixed
A growing chorus of clinicians and analysts warns that the government is advancing South Africa’s National Health Insurance plan in a form that fails to address the country’s deepest health system issues. Joburg paediatrician Simon Strachan says doctors feel “frustrated and desperate” because the state has sidelined their practical input, despite its central role in any workable reform. Uncertainty surged…
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Malaria Financing In Africa: Strategies and Solutions
As African leaders met in Addis Ababa for the 39th AU Summit, malaria was back in the spotlight. Malaria Financing In Africa is now more urgent as new data indicate that the disease is increasing again after years of progress. That reversal is colliding with shrinking donor support and harsher climate conditions. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 610,000…
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Digital Primary Healthcare in Africa: Building Resilience
The recent decision by major donor countries to reduce global health funding has sent shockwaves through sub-Saharan Africa. The consequences of stop-work orders issued in January 2025 have already impacted HIV programmes and other critical health responses. However, this crisis presents a vital opportunity for African nations to take greater ownership of their health systems. It can be done by…
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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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Medical schemes facing ‘slow death spiral’ amid regulatory failures
South Africa’s medical scheme industry is at a critical juncture, with escalating regulatory failures forcing schemes to design options that include gaps in cover. This trend increasingly requires members to purchase supplementary insurance, such as primary healthcare plans or gap cover. Consequently, this pushes consumers to pay for cover based more closely on their health risks. This was a key…
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Universal health coverage urgently needed – Motsoaledi
South Africa’s Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi warned that the world must expedite universal health coverage (UHC) to achieve its 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He made this statement during his speech at the G20 Health Working Group. He highlighted alarming global setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, rising healthcare costs, and shrinking health budgets. These issues threaten to reverse decades…
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Moving toward NHI and primary care focus
Since emerging from apartheid three decades ago, South Africa has worked to ensure access to healthcare, food, and social assistance, as promised in the 1996 Constitution’s Bill of Rights. Yet, despite investments, the public healthcare system remains hampered by resource inequity, unmet needs, and insufficient primary care access. The proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) seeks to reshape healthcare delivery, prioritising…
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Addressing gaps in South Africa’s primary healthcare system
One issue remains clear amid the debate over South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI): Primary healthcare is vital for creating a sustainable and equitable health system. However, achieving this will require significant investment in workforce training, healthcare delivery, and system reform. Primary healthcare (PHC) differs from the traditional medical model in that it focuses on community involvement and addresses the…
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Challenging road ahead for South Africa’s healthcare system
In May, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill into law, aiming to implement Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in South Africa. However, this move has sparked debates and potential court challenges questioning the Act’s constitutionality, including opposition from political parties within the Government of National Unity (GNU). The government will implement NHI over several years, but clear…