Global HIV funding cuts pushed international financing for the epidemic to its lowest level in almost two decades in 2025. Funding from several donor countries fell by 18% between 2024 and 2025, according to a new UNAIDS report. The total declined by more than $1.5bn to $7.3bn. The contraction comes at a critical point in the global response to HIV.…
Tag: Public Health
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Aspen HIV Prevention Pill Deal Expands African Access
Aspen Pharmacare will become a major African supplier of Merck’s experimental monthly HIV prevention pill, alimatravir. The agreement depends on the medicine successfully completing clinical trials and receiving regulatory approval. Merck granted voluntary licenses to seven generic drug manufacturers, including the South African company, to produce and distribute lower-cost versions of the medicine. The drug also goes by its development…
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Gauteng’s Foreign Doctor Salary Bill Sparks Jobs Row
The Gauteng department of health has budgeted more than R612 million to compensate foreign medical professionals during the 2026/27 financial year. The disclosure has triggered criticism as hundreds of qualified South African doctors remain unemployed. Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Faith Mazibuko revealed the figures in a written response to ActionSA’s questions. According to the response, the department has 551…
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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.…
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Contraceptive Shortages Hit South African Healthcare
South Africa is facing severe supply constraints of several widely used birth control brands. Manufacturing disruptions at Aspen Pharmacare have triggered these stockouts. The Department of Health and the major pharmacy chain Clicks confirmed the disruption this week. The supply gap impacts both state-subsidised clinics and private pharmacies. Key oral contraceptives like Triphasil, Nordette, and Microval are currently difficult to…
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Diabetes Deaths In SA Signal Urgent Public Health Emergency
Diabetes deaths in SA have risen sharply, and the disease has become one of South Africa’s most serious public health threats. New mortality figures show that it was the country’s leading underlying natural cause of death in 2023. According to death notification data processed by Stats SA and reviewed by the Diabetes Alliance, diabetes accounted for 27,692 deaths. That represented…
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Lenacapavir HIV Prevention Injection: SA Rollout Faces Heat
South Africa’s long-acting HIV prevention programme has entered a new phase. President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi led an official rollout event in Secunda, Mpumalanga, on 5 June 2026. The twice-yearly injection of lenacapavir prevents HIV infection when used as prescribed. Health officials position the product as a major addition to the country’s prevention toolkit. This is alongside…
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Antibiotic Resistance In Salmonella Tied To Climate Change
A groundbreaking international study has revealed a worrying link between climate change and global health threats. Rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns are actively accelerating the spread of dangerous, hard-to-treat infections. The comprehensive research was published this week in The Lancet Planetary Health. A collaborative team from several prominent institutions led the work. These included the Chinese Academy of Sciences…
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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…