Children living in poorly serviced informal settlements face severe health threats. Repeated infections caused by unhygienic living conditions are drastically increasing their vulnerability to development issues. The DG Murray Trust has issued an urgent warning to the healthcare sector. South Africa’s national goal to end child stunting by 2030 hangs in the balance. The non-profit organisation stresses that all spheres…
Tag: South Africa
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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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Excessive Dialysis Product Pricing: Adcock Ingram Referred
South Africa’s Competition Commission has referred pharmaceutical manufacturer Adcock Ingram’s hospital division to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution over alleged excessive pricing of kidney dialysis products. The referral, announced on 3 June 2026, targets Adcock Ingram Critical Care (AICC) and covers pricing for peritoneal dialysis and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) products between July 2019 and June 2024. The commission…
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South Africa’s Suicide Rate Ranks Fourth In Africa
South Africa has the fourth-highest suicide rate in Africa, according to the latest figures published via the World Health Organisation’s Global Health Observatory. The country’s rate is 21.1 deaths per 100,000 people. It sits behind Lesotho (36.7), Eswatini (31.0) and Zimbabwe (25.4). Eritrea (20.2) rounds out the top five among countries that submitted data. The ranking matters beyond public health…
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Netcare Growth Expectations Cut After GEMS Benefit Changes
Private hospital group Netcare has trimmed its full-year outlook. This decision follows sudden benefit adjustments by the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS). South Africa’s largest medical scheme for public sector workers introduced strict cost-cutting measures. These alterations will inevitably impact patient volumes across the private hospital sector. Why Netcare Growth Expectations Were Revised Downwards The scheme’s popular Tanzanite One option…
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Concourt Ruling Strips Government Of Private Sector Controls
South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI) project has suffered a significant legal setback. The recent ConCourt Ruling confirmed that key provisions in the National Health Act are unconstitutional and invalid. The unanimous judgment was written by Justice Kate Savage. It upheld a high court order declaring sections 36 to 40 of the National Health Act inconsistent with the Constitution. These…
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Medical Aid Schemes Face Crisis As Young Members Exit
The intense debate around National Health Insurance (NHI) often dominates the news in South Africa. This focus has obscured a severe crisis within the private healthcare sector. The traditional funding model is under immense pressure. Private healthcare relies heavily on cross-subsidisation. Younger, healthier members pay premiums that fund the care of older, sicker individuals. This system only functions when enough…
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South Africa Pharmacy Chains Shift Beyond Saturated Suburbs
South Africa’s biggest pharmacy retailers are redesigning how and where they grow. With suburban shopping centres offering fewer new sites, South African pharmacy chains are moving beyond the familiar middle- and upper-income customer base that has fuelled expansion for years. Clicks and Dis-Chem still dominate the dispensary market, but both groups now face a tougher question: where does the next…
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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…
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Netcare CEO Transition: Melanie Da Costa Named Successor
Netcare has confirmed a high-profile leadership handover that will reshape the top team at one of South Africa’s biggest private healthcare groups. The JSE-listed company has appointed long-serving executive Melanie Da Costa as its next chief executive officer, with a phased transition that runs through 2026 and into 2027. Da Costa is currently Executive Director for Strategy and Health Policy.…
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Certificate of Need Ruling Forces Health Licensing Rethink
South Africa’s Certificate of Need Ruling has reset the policy debate on where health professionals may practise. On Monday, 18 May 2026, the Constitutional Court confirmed that provisions allowing the state to control where doctors and nurses work are unconstitutional. The court ordered that the provisions be removed from the legislation. The legal challenge was brought by Solidarity, the Alliance…