South Africa faces a critical challenge: a child stunting rate that has stubbornly remained around 25% since the 1990s. This chronic malnutrition, where children are too short for their age, doesn’t just impact physical development. It significantly hinders intellectual growth, potentially reducing the country’s per capita GDP by a staggering 10%. While the Child Support Grant (CSG) has proven effective,…
Tag: Public Health
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HFA’s NHI Court Challenge: A Legal Perspective
The contentious National Health Insurance (NHI) Act again faces court action, with HFA’s NHI court challenge marking its sixth legal challenge. This time, HFA’s NHI court challenge is brought by the Health Funders Association (HFA). The HFA represents a significant portion of South Africa’s medical scheme industry, including Discovery Health Medical Scheme. It has formally petitioned the court to declare…
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Call for Radical Reform to Combat Health Crisis
The recent World Health Assembly in Geneva convened against a backdrop of seismic shifts in the global health arena. A dramatic reduction in funding, a re-evaluation of priorities, and a changing leadership dynamic are collectively reshaping how the world addresses its most pressing health challenges. At the heart of this upheaval lies the United States’ decision to significantly cut foreign…
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Medical Device Industry on the Brink as Debt Soars to R1.4 Billion
The South African medical device industry is sounding the alarm once again as provincial health departments, the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), and the SA Military Health Service collectively owe over R1.4 billion to medical suppliers. This debt, with a significant portion outstanding for more than 30 days, is pushing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the brink and threatening…
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NHI Legal Challenges cost Health Department R9.7 Million in Fees
The Department of Health has incurred a substantial legal bill, spending R9.7 million since October 2023. This was to defend legal challenges against its flagship National Health Insurance (NHI) Act and the existing National Health Act. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi revealed the figures to MPs yesterday. This was in response to a question posed by Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Michéle…
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Are New Cancer Treatments Worth the Price?
A significant number of cancer drugs approved since 2000, as reviewed by Bloomberg News, have never been definitively shown to extend patient survival for their approved uses. This raises questions about the growing cost of cancer treatments. The landscape of cancer treatment has been revolutionized over the past three decades, with over 200 new cancer drugs greenlit by the US…
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Zimbabwe Health System: Urgent Government Measures
The Zimbabwean government is launching a series of urgent measures aimed at stabilizing the nation’s public health system. The Zimbabwe health system is currently grappling with significant challenges, including medicine shortages and under-equipped hospitals. Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora confirmed the interventions. These include fast-tracking the procurement of essential medicines, earlier disbursement of allocated funds, and strengthening…
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HIV Crisis: Impact of US Aid Cuts on Treatment
South Africa’s hard-won gains against the ongoing HIV crisis and AIDS are facing a perilous new challenge following significant cuts to US funding. These cuts have sparked fears of a resurgence in infections and deaths. Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, once lauded for his decisive action against the epidemic, is now under intense scrutiny for his response to the escalating…
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NHI Sparks Alarm and Calls for Healthcare Reform
The looming implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act is casting a long shadow over South Africa. NHI sparks alarm among critics who are expressing profound concern over its viability. This is particularly due to the well-documented struggles within the existing public healthcare system. Fears are mounting that the ambitious plan could decimate private medical schemes. However, it might…
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Global Health Giants Consider Merger Amidst Funding Crunch
In a significant development for global health, two of the world’s leading organisations, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the Gavi vaccine alliance, are in discussions to merge some operational functions. This strategic move aims to combat a severe financing crunch. A Response to Aid Budget Pull-Backs While discussions about more efficient collaboration have been ongoing…
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Boost for Public Health Jobs in South Africa
The South African government has announced a significant financial injection of over R20 billion to revitalise the public health sector. This provides a much-needed boost for public health. This move aims to safeguard thousands of jobs and address critical staff shortages. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana unveiled the allocation while tabling his latest 2025/2026 budget. The National Assembly dubbed this budget…