Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has announced a significant financial intervention from the National Treasury. They are releasing an initial R753 million in emergency funds. This aims to mitigate the severe impact of recent US funding cuts on South Africa’s health system. These emergency funds are the first part of a potential multi-phase government response. Its success hinges on effective…
Tag: South Africa
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Vertex’s Trikafta: Addressing Drug Pricing Issues
Health activists are demanding that the Competition Commission reopen its investigation into pharmaceutical giant Vertex. They argue the company’s pricing and access strategies for its revolutionary cystic fibrosis drug, Trikafta, have created a deep and unjust divide. As a result, the treatment is out of reach for most South African patients. The commission dropped its initial probe into Vertex in…
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Lack of Data on Foreign Healthcare Users Exposed
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has made a startling admission. Due to a lack of data, the government has no information on the number of foreign nationals using South Africa’s public health facilities. This leaves policymakers blind to the full extent of the demand on the nation’s embattled healthcare system. This lack of data exacerbates the situation. The confession comes as…
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Vaccine Misinformation: Combating False Narratives
The Gauteng Department of Health has launched a massive vaccination campaign to curb the spread of measles and rubella. Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko issued a stern warning to parents against dangerous vaccine misinformation circulating on social media. Addressing vaccine misinformation is crucial to ensure the success of the campaign. Speaking at the campaign launch, Nkomo-Ralehoko appealed directly to parents and…
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Gems Premium Hike: Unions Demand Single Digits
South Africa’s largest medical scheme for public servants, Gems, is facing mounting pressure from unions. They want to limit its 2026 premium increase to single digits. This follows a controversial 13.4% hike this year. Following several years of modest increases, the double-digit rise for 2025 drew strong opposition from public sector unions. These include the Public Servants Association (PSA) and…
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Lethal Neglect and Deaths in Kimberley Hospital
An explosive investigation by the Health Ombud has uncovered a litany of catastrophic failures and lethal neglect at the Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital. The hospital staff left patients in dangerously cold conditions without electricity. This lethal neglect led to at least two deaths and caused severe harm to others. Following a complaint from Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi in…
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African Nursing Conference Aims for Collaborative Care
Public and private sector nurses from across the SADC region are gathered in Boksburg this week for the Fifth African Nursing Conference. This conference provides a critical platform aimed at bridging divides. It also focuses on forging a united path towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the era of National Health Insurance (NHI). The African Nursing Conference is focused on…
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SA Life Expectancy Gains and Public Health Advances
South Africans are living significantly longer lives. The national life expectancy at birth has surged by an impressive 12 years since the turn of the century, according to new data. This improvement highlights major advances in public health, particularly in the fight against HIV. Furthermore, it reflects an overall enhancement of living conditions across the nation, as shown by the…
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Sin Taxes: A Strategy for Health Improvement in Africa
Academics from the University of Cape Town (UCT) are championing the greater use of health taxes on products like tobacco, alcohol, and soft drinks. Experts see these taxes as a powerful dual-purpose tool for African nations. A new report argues that such measures, often referred to as sin taxes, can significantly curb consumption. They can reduce premature deaths and illnesses,…
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SA’s Cuba Doctor Programme Faces Growing Doubts
Almost 30 years since its inception, the Nelson Mandela-Fidel Castro (NMFC) medical training programme, which sends South African students to Cuba, is facing a storm of criticism over its staggering costs. Additionally, there is a lack of transparent data and questionable relevance in a country that now struggles to employ its own locally trained doctors. Once a flagship post-apartheid initiative,…