South Africa has yet to begin assessing GLP-1 obesity treatment for public sector patients, despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommending these medicines for long-term obesity management in December 2025. The Department of Health is considering adding GLP-1 medicines to its essential medicines list for diabetes treatment. However, it has not started evaluating their use specifically for obesity. Rebone Ntsie,…
Tag: WHO
-
WHO’s Africa Chief Urges Action, Not Talk, on Primary Healthcare
African governments must take greater ownership of their health systems and turn conference pledges into concrete action on financing and primary healthcare, the World Health Organisation’s regional director for Africa has said. Professor Mohamed Janabi told delegates that governments should lead health-sector development while partners align behind national priorities. He was speaking in Arusha at the International Conference on Primary…
-
Traditional Health Practitioners Set for NHI Role
According to Dr Joe Phaahla, Deputy Minister of Health, the government intends to include traditional health practitioners as it introduces National Health Insurance (NHI). He announced this during his speech at the African Traditional Medicine Commemorative Day in Mpumalanga. The commitment establishes a formal place for traditional medicine within South Africa’s universal health coverage schemes. It aligns the country with…
-
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…
-
Ebola Outbreak Raises Red Flag As Death Toll Climbs
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have reported 26 additional suspected Ebola deaths in 24 hours in the country’s east. The jump has heightened concern about how quickly the crisis is expanding. The reported total now stands at 131 deaths linked to the outbreak. Authorities have logged 516 suspected cases and 33 confirmed cases so far. The…
-
Hantavirus Border Screening: South Africa Reviews Protocols
The detection of two hantavirus-linked cases entering South Africa has sparked a critical review of the nation’s Hantavirus Border Screening effectiveness. Following a briefing to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health by Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, MPs are questioning whether current port-of-entry controls can reliably intercept serious infectious threats. The incident stems from an outbreak on the Dutch-flagged cruise vessel, MV…
-
NHI Funding: Court Hears Claims Of Blind NHI Approval
The National Health Insurance (NHI) programme faced renewed legal pressure yesterday. Constitutional Court justices questioned whether the public had enough information to participate meaningfully in the law-making process. At the centre of the dispute is NHI Funding Transparency. Debate continues over whether Parliament should have provided clearer cost and funding details before passing the bill. The NHI Act aims to…
-
Afrigen Business Rescue: Cape Town Biotech Firm Seeks Investors
The Cape Town-based biotechnology firm, Afrigen Biologics, has officially entered business rescue. This move follows the financial collapse of the Avacare group, which holds a 51% majority stake in the company. The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) holds the remaining 49% share. Afrigen gained international acclaim in 2022. It successfully developed an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine using publicly available data from Moderna.…
-
The Global Funding Crisis: Rebuilding Multilateral Institutions
The landscape of global healthcare is currently facing a seismic shift. In recent weeks, a surge of commentary from high-profile industry leaders has emerged, with many discussions centred on the global funding crisis and its impact. These “big-hitters” are all grappling with a singular, urgent question: how should the future of multilateral health institutions be redesigned? Prominent voices include Philippe…
-
Chronic Respiratory Diseases: A Silent Health Crisis
Across South Africa and the globe, a silent scourge is devastating public health. Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), remain significantly underreported. Despite their prevalence, they receive far less attention than infectious diseases. In South Africa, CRDs account for 4% of all annual deaths. Data from 2019 reveals 20,149 deaths linked to these conditions.…
-
Malaria Financing In Africa: Strategies and Solutions
As African leaders met in Addis Ababa for the 39th AU Summit, malaria was back in the spotlight. Malaria Financing In Africa is now more urgent as new data indicate that the disease is increasing again after years of progress. That reversal is colliding with shrinking donor support and harsher climate conditions. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 610,000…