Medical Brief News Updates

A collective of 126 frontline South African doctors – from more than 40 public and private healthcare institutions countrywide – has lambasted the SA Association Trade Union (Samatu) for failing to represent health professionals’ concerns or to address a deepening crisis, and says it plans to launch a new union… Read more »

Sick leave costs in the public service skyrocketed between 2020 and 2023 – from R8bn in 2020 to R11.5bn in 2022 before dipping slightly to R10.1bn in 2023 – at huge cost to the fiscus, and continue to rise, with the SAPS, for instance, spending more than R130m on sick… Read more »

The Public Protector (PP) has found that "administrative deficiencies" led to some of Gauteng's public hospitals failure to respond effectively to the Covid-19 pandemic, reports EWN. The provincial representative for Office of the Public Protector, Vusumuzi Dlamini, appeared before the Gauteng legislature yesterday to release reports into some of his… Read more »

Biotech drugmaker Sarepta Therapeutics has reported a second death in connection with its gene therapy for muscular dystrophy, and paused shipments of the therapy, Elevidys, for older patients no longer able to walk, it reported this weekend. The one-time treatment is approved for children with a genetic variant of Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, which… Read more »

Implementation of the Health Patient Registration System (HPRS) in KwaZulu-Natal is being hamstrung by a budget shortfall and issues relating to internet connectivity, according to Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, who said the numerous hard-to-access rural areas were hindering connectivity. Addressing the Select Committee on Social Services at the National Council… Read more »

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has issued a warning about service providers using falsified licences to gain public trust and conduct business. The warning comes amid the booming popularity of cannabis-infused products in South Africa, from beverages and snacks to baked goods. However, the lack of proper… Read more »

Patients at nine hospitals in Gauteng have been without hot water for six weeks, thanks to leaking and broken boilers, compressors and tanks, according to the DA, which said the problem has been ongoing since 1 May. In a statement on the  Politicsweb site, DA shadow MEC for health Jack… Read more »

A backlog of 3 563 patients awaiting MRI scans at Gauteng Hospitals is cause for concern, says the DA, with shadow health Minister Jack Bloom slamming the shortage of the machines, which are critical for diagnosing and treating tumours, injuries and infections. The party has proposed a partnership with private… Read more »

South Africa’s efforts to maintain its fight against HIV-Aids, despite the massive funding cuts from the United States, have been acknowledged by United Nations under-secretary general and UNAids executive director Winnie Byanyima, who visited the country last week. However, Byanyima conceded that the withdrawal of the nearly $8bn in funding… Read more »

After a World Health Organisation (WHO) emergency committee meeting last week on the mpox upsurge in Africa, the group’s director-general has accepted the recommendation that a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under International Health Regulations is still warranted. The WHO first declared the PHEIC for the escalating situation… Read more »