FOCUS: THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
HPCSA vs anti-abortion doctor: Defence wants charges dropped
October 16th, 2019 Anti-abortionist Dr Jaques de Vos’s medical career has been stalled for more than two years because of a repeatedly delayed disciplinary action by the Health Professions Council of SA, writes MedicalBrief. Now, in the face of yet another HPCSA...
Semenya row: Study shows testosterone boosts female athletic performance
October 16th, 2019 In a robust new study with dire implications for trans athletes like SA's Caster Semenya, researchers at the Karolinska Institutet and the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences found a significant causal relationship between elevated male sex...WEEKLY ROUNDUP
Public health buckling under increasing burden of immigration and disease — Mkhize
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says the demand for health services in South Africa is increasing and funds to address the change are limited mainly... October 16th, 2019R5bn wasted on failed NHI pilots could have improved health system — DA
Siviwe Gwarube MP – DA Shadow Minister of Health said in a statement. The Democratic Alliance (DA) can reveal the exact breakdown of the R5.1bn... October 16th, 2019UN report on the abuses against women in reproductive healthcare
The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women has released a report regarding mistreatment and violence against women in reproductive health... October 16th, 2019Busa and Health Department have 'constructive' meeting on NHI
Business Unity SA (Busa), which represents private companies and professional bodies, has had a “cordial and constructive” first meeting with... October 16th, 2019Most of Cape metropole a red zone for violent crime against EMS crews
90% percent of the Cape metropole is a red zone for violent crime. The Weekend Argus reports that so says veteran medic JA van Zyl, manager of the... October 16th, 2019Nehawu to picket against high private healthcare costs
The National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has declared a picket outside the Netcare head offices in Johannesburg, against... October 16th, 2019CMS investigations into alleged racism and corruption to cost R14.6m
Investigations at the Council for Medical Schemes into alleged racism of schemes and corruption within its own ranks, will cost the regulator... October 16th, 2019FDA approves Eli Lilly's migraine drug
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it had approved Eli Lilly and Co’s migraine drug, Reyvow. Reuters Health report that... October 16th, 2019Illegal foreign 'dentists' arrested in Gauteng
Three unqualified people who were running an illegal dental practice in Springs, Ekurhuleni, were among those arrested at the weekend, The Times... October 16th, 2019Africa's first Mako robotic knee replacement operation
A total knee replacement operation has been carried out using the state-of-the-art Mako robotic arm assisted surgery system for the first time in... October 16th, 2019New Jubilee District Hospital facility and residence for Cuban-trained students
A medical student training facility has been opened at Jubilee District Hospital, in Hammanskraal. The newly renovated residence solves numerous... October 16th, 2019Rural Britain struggles to recruit senior medical staff
Hospitals in rural and coastal Britain are struggling to recruit senior medical staff, leaving many worryingly “under-doctored”, The Guardian... October 16th, 2019Global Fund raises $14bn for next three years
Bono, Bill Gates, and heads of state convened in eastern France for the Sixth Replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and... October 16th, 2019UK hospital books hotel rooms for patients, in case of Brexit chaos
Maidstone Hospital is taking the step to ensure patients can still be treated in the event of Brexit causing severe traffic congestion in Kent. The... October 16th, 2019NEWS RELEASES
Colleges of Medicine of SA statement on recent Surgery examinations
The Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) is the custodian of the quality of medical care in South Africa and is unique in the world in that... October 16th, 2019Nominations open for 2019 SA Health Excellence Awards
Following the success of the inaugural South African Health Excellence Awards in 2018, Clinix Health Group in partnership with the South African... October 16th, 2019Health Funders Association welcomes Health Market Inquiry's report
The Health Funders Association (HFA), the representative organisation of the majority of medical schemes and medical scheme administrators in South... October 16th, 2019CARDIOLOGY
Heart failure and the obesity paradox
While obesity significantly increases the chances of developing heart failure, for those with established heart failure overweight may confer a...
October 16th, 2019
CARDIOVASCULAR
Canadian review: Aspirin not recommended for those not at risk of CVD
Those who've never had a heart attack or stroke, should not be taking daily aspirin to prevent them, found a Canadian review of three large,...
October 16th, 2019
ENDOCRINOLOGY
Fat mass index, not BMI, associated with CVD events in people with diabetes
In people with diabetes, fat mass index, not body mass index (BMI), is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events, according to data... October 16th, 2019ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Aspirin may lessen adverse effects of air pollution
A study by a team of researchers from the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, and the Boston University... October 16th, 2019GYNAECOLOGY
Early menopause and risk of cardiovascular disease
Women who reach menopause before the age of 50 have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to researchers from The University... October 16th, 2019HIV/AIDS
Among those with private healthcare, ARV adherence declines over time
Overall, privately insured people with HIV have inadequate adherence to their daily antiretroviral (ARV) regimen during their first year on... October 16th, 2019Exercise reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety in people with HIV
Exercise reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety in people living with HIV, according to the results of a meta-analysis. The research... October 16th, 2019Many MSM in Africa are missing out on treatment
Despite improvements in HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Africa, many are missing out on HIV treatment. This is the finding of... October 16th, 2019HOSPITAL MEDICINE
Energy-saver washing machines may fail to eradicate pathogens
Repeated Klebsiella oxytoca contamination on the skin of premature babies in a German hospital's neonatal intensive care unit was eventually traced...
October 16th, 2019