News
SAPPF and UHAC submits documents on the DITC Interim Block Exemptions
20 May 2025
On 16 May SAPPF and UHAC submitted two documents to the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition (DTIC).
[READ MORE]
Have we been misunderstanding obesity?
20 May 2025
A recent study reveals that the proportion of young people (aged 5-24) living with obesity more than tripled from 2% in 1990 to over 6% by 2021, reported Spotlight (20 May 2025).
[READ MORE]
Netcare boosts mental healthcare capacity
20 May 2025
The private hospital group Netcare announced its plans for new Akeso facilities in Pretoria, Polokwane, and Alberlito to “expand its mental healthcare footprint across SA”, reported Times Live (20 May 2025)
[READ MORE]
In 2024 SA spent R41.3bn on prescription drugs
20 May 2025
“SA’s staggering R41.3bn spent on prescription medications in 2024 underscores the prevalence of various health conditions affecting South Africans, from chronic diseases to mental health struggles.” – The Citizen (20 May 2025)
[READ MORE]
No treatment for cancer patients as health department fails to pay
20 May 2025
In the Eastern Cape chemotherapy treatment of hundreds of cancer patients are being interrupted due to the Department of Health's failure to pay its drug suppliers, reported Daily Maverick (20 May 2025)
[READ MORE]
Adcock Ingram barred from selling painkiller in Aspen trademark battle
19 May 2025
The Pretoria High Court ordered pharmaceutical company Adcock Ingram to cease selling and distributing its newly launched painkilling drug, Lenbucod.
“The court found that the name infringed upon rival Aspen Pharmaceuticals' existing trademark, Mybucod. Aspen contended that the name ‘Lenbucod’ was confusingly similar to their established product, ‘Mybucod’ thereby constituting trademark infringement.” – BusinessDay (19 May 2025)
[READ MORE]
Medical schemes facing 'slow death spiral' amid regulatory failures
19 May 2025
Medical schemes have become increasingly unaffordable and unattractive, said Christoff Raath, joint CEO of Insight Actuaries and Consultants, at the recent Board of Healthcare Conference (BHF). - Smart about Money, 15 May 2025
[READ MORE]
Gauteng underspends budget, but owes suppliers R367m
16 May 2025
Gauteng Health still owes service providers R367m, having paid just 21% of its invoices between January and March because of ‘significant cash flow constraints’. Meanwhile, the Department had underspent by a significant R724m, reported MedicalBrief (14 May 2025)
[READ MORE]
Life Healthcare backs collaboration to tackle healthcare crisis
27 Nov 2024
Life Healthcare CEO Peter Wharton-Hood has backed a call for greater collaboration between the government and private healthcare providers to address South Africa’s pressing healthcare challenges. This follows a proposal by Netcare CEO Richard Friedland, who suggested adding healthcare as the fourth pillar in an existing government-business partnership focused on revitalising the economy.
[READ MORE]
Discovery Life claims back to pre-Covid levels
19 Apr 2024
“Discovery Life distributed R10.3bn to its clients, a decrease from the R11bn paid the previous year,” reported Business Day (19April 2024)
[READ MORE]
Hundreds of websites found selling fake weight-loss drugs
16 Apr 2024
Reuters reported on 15 April that the cybersecurity company BrandShield has shut down over 250 websites selling counterfeit versions of popular drugs used for weight loss and diabetes treatment within the GLP-1 class.
[READ MORE]
RAF bid to appeal judgment on claim requirements
06 Dec 2023
On 5 December 2023 the Pretoria High Court rejected the Road Accident Fund’s (RAF) request to reconsider a previous verdict from November, reported Business Day.
“The ruling mandated eliminating the stringent new requirements for filing claims outlined in a 2021 board notice.”
[READ MORE]
Covid-19 vaccines: ‘Health Department squandered the opportunity’
07 Sep 2023
“Health activists are right to draw attention to this grossly unfair situation. (Covid-19 vaccine deals) But the far bigger scandal is that the Health Department squandered the opportunity after spending an estimated R14-bn on Covid-19 jabs and belatedly filling its warehouses with enough doses to vaccinate the nation” – Business Day (7 September 2023).
[READ MORE]
EDITORIAL: Health Minister must halt care crisis
20 Jan 2023
NHI, the government’s plan for universal health coverage, rests heavily on nurse-led care. Yet where these nurses will come from is a mystery. – Editorial (
Business Day 20 January 2023).
[READ MORE]
Study raises concerns about quality of hospital meals
12 Jan 2023
According to a study of meals served at Cape Town hospitals the food served to hospital patients are way below the health department “ration scale” and patients’ energy requirements, reported
Financial Mail (12 January 2023).
[READ MORE]