A damning new report from the UK public inquiry concludes that implementing the first national lockdown just one week earlier would have prevented approximately 23,000 deaths in England. The findings paint a scathing picture of the government’s initial response, citing a “failure to appreciate the level of risk” and a “toxic” internal culture. Baroness Heather Hallett, the retired senior judge…
Tag: Public Health
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Court Upholds Malotana’s Suspension by Gauteng Premier
Suspended Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) head of department (HOD), Lesiba Malotana, suffered a significant blow. The Labour Court dismissed his urgent attempt to overturn his precautionary suspension. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi suspended Malotana as a precautionary measure in October. The action followed a damning report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). This report detailed an alleged procurement syndicate operating…
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Diabetes Crisis: A Public Health Emergency in South Africa
As the diabetes crisis intensifies, civil society organisations are calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare the disease a public health emergency. They are demanding urgent government intervention and dedicated resources to combat the disease’s devastating impact. The unified demand was presented this week at the Diabetes Summit. Here, 350 stakeholders, including academics, civil society groups, industry representatives, and government…
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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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TB Deaths Decline to 54,000, But Critical Treatment Gaps Remain
South Africa recorded approximately 54,000 deaths from tuberculosis (TB) in 2024, according to the latest World TB Report from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The figures confirm a slow but steady downward trend in TB deaths in recent years. This marks a significant improvement from two decades ago. During that time, the epidemic, fueled by the peak of the HIV…
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NHI Funding Plan “Unworkable and Unfeasible,” warns HFA
South Africa’s ambitious National Health Insurance (NHI) plan is facing intense scrutiny. The Health Funders Association (HFA) warns that “uncertainty and contradictions” plague the government’s NHI funding plan. They render it “unworkable and unfeasible”. The HFA has raised fundamental questions about the affordability and sequencing of the NHI. They highlight contradictory timelines presented by the Department of Health in court…
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Cholera Vaccine Trial Aims for Self-Reliance in Africa
South Africa has taken a pivotal step towards pharmaceutical independence with the launch of a new South African cholera vaccine trial. The state-backed manufacturer, Biovac, in partnership with the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), has initiated clinical trials for a candidate oral cholera vaccine. Many hail this development as a crucial move to reduce Africa’s dependence on imported medicines.…
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Home-Based Hypertension Care Shows Dramatic Results
High blood pressure, often called the “silent killer,” is a significant public health crisis in South Africa. Implementing home-based hypertension care could be a crucial step in managing this issue. The 2023 Global Burden of Disease report ranked hypertension as the fifth-highest risk factor driving death and disability in the country. This is because it is a major contributor to…
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Biovac R&D Lab to Drive Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa
State-backed vaccine manufacturer Biovac has officially launched a new product development laboratory at its Cape Town facility. This move strengthens its capacity to produce vaccines entirely on African soil, from start to finish. The new Biovac R&D lab in Pinelands, Cape Town, will enable scientists to conduct cutting-edge research and development (R&D) on the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for novel…
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Health Funding Shortages Impacting HIV/AIDS Care
The National Treasury’s emergency allocation to South Africa’s health sector is dangerously insufficient. It is at high risk of being diverted to pay off massive provincial debts rather than fund essential services, Parliament heard on Wednesday. Health advocates warned the select committee on appropriations that the new funds fail to close the critical health funding gap. This gap was created…
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Global Inequity Prolonging Epidemics and HIV/AIDS
Global inequalities are actively prolonging existing pandemics, such as HIV/AIDS. They are critically undermining the world’s ability to respond to future outbreaks, according to a stark new report. The report highlights how global inequity prolongs epidemics as a major issue that needs immediate attention. The report, “The Global Council on Inequality, AIDS, and Pandemics,” is an expert panel convened by…