As South Africa moves towards implementing its ambitious National Health Insurance (NHI) Act, a critical detail causes alarm. The proposed removal of the medical tax credit, presented by the government as a funding measure, could unravel the healthcare safety net for hundreds of thousands of working families. Additionally, it could place the public health system under immense pressure. A new…
Tag: Public Health
-
Child Brain Injury Treatment Breakthroughs in Cape Town
A Cape Town surgeon is at the forefront of pioneering research that could fundamentally change how traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in children are treated worldwide. This research aims to improve survival rates and recovery outcomes for countless young patients. Professor Anthony Figaji, the head of paediatric neurosurgery at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and a researcher at the…
-
New TB Vaccine Initiatives by South Africa
South Africa has taken a landmark step in its fight against tuberculosis (TB) by hosting the first-ever national workshop on TB vaccine preparedness. The event, co-convened by the Department of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO), signals a new era in public health. It moves the conversation from treatment to outright prevention for adolescents and adults. With a new,…
-
Doctors and Nurses Exodus Threatening Patient Care
A staggering exodus of medical professionals is crippling South Africa’s public health sector. Official figures reveal that nearly 6,000 doctors and nurses are resigning from state facilities every year. This devastating brain drain is placing the nation’s healthcare system under immense pressure. As a result, hospitals are critically understaffed and vulnerable communities are left without care. Recent data presented in…
-
NHI Dream and the Future of Healthcare Funding
The NHI dream of universal health coverage for all South Africans through the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme is facing a harsh economic reality. Political parties are grappling with a deadlocked 2025/26 national budget. The significant financial challenges required to implement the NHI dream have become increasingly evident. This has cast doubt on its feasibility in the current environment. Staggering…
-
Robert F Kennedy Jr Faces Vaccine Controversy
In May 2025, Senate Republicans voted 49–51 to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. This occurred despite his lack of formal training in medicine or public health. Only Minority Leader Mitch McConnell opposed the nomination. He cited his own experience surviving polio before the advent of vaccines. Supporters had been swayed by Kennedy’s pledge…
-
Medico-Legal Claims Impacting Public Health Budgets
South Africa’s public healthcare system is under severe financial strain. The total value of medico-legal claims against the state has skyrocketed to an astonishing R77 billion as of March 2024. Provincial health departments, particularly in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng, are battling thousands of lawsuits. These lawsuits divert critical funds away from essential patient services. In a written reply to…
-
Climate Damage Affects Medication Adherence, fuels health crisis
South Africa’s overstretched public health system is facing a severe crisis. The intensifying effects of climate change wreak havoc on its infrastructure. The issue of climate damage is evident in a new study, which has found a direct link between damaged health facilities and patients failing to take their medication. This has devastating consequences for public health and mortality rates.…
-
PEPFAR Funding Secure for Vital HIV Programmes
The United States Congress has spared the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a cornerstone of global HIV/AIDS prevention for nearly two decades, from a potential $400 million budget cut.. The proposed reduction was part of the Trump administration’s wider “rescissions package.” This package aimed at clawing back $9.4 billion in previously approved federal spending. However, lawmakers raised significant…
-
Gauteng Health Budget to Transform Healthcare Services
The Gauteng Department of Health has received a budget of R67 billion for the 2025-26 financial year. This initiative aims to overhaul service delivery, modernise infrastructure, and tackle critical healthcare needs across the province. The Gauteng Health Budget places a strong emphasis on these improvements. During a media briefing at the provincial legislature, Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu…
-
RSV Infant Vaccine: Latest Developments in South Africa
A groundbreaking vaccine to protect infants from severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is now available in South Africa’s private healthcare sector. Still, a decision on its inclusion in the public programme remains pending. The country’s National Advisory Group on Immunisation (NAGI) has formally recommended the RSV infant vaccine for all pregnant women. They have left the final decision to the…
-
Vaccine Campaigns Under Threat from Misinformation
A new wave of vaccine misinformation, led by US Secretary of Health & Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr, is threatening to undermine global public health. South African experts are warning of dire consequences. His recent social media attack on Gavi, the international vaccine alliance, and the widely used DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) vaccine overlooks decades of scientific evidence.…