FOCUS: THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
Deal me in — playing games can protect cognitive skills in old age
December 4th, 2019 People who play non-digital games – such as cards, crosswords and board games – are more likely to stay mentally sharp in later life, a longitudinal University of Edinburgh study found. The participants were part of the Lothian Birth Cohort...
Parliament delays decision on whether to read NHI submissions
December 4th, 2019 The National Assembly’s Health Committee will only consider how to manage the vast volume of written submissions it has received in response to the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill in February, its chair, Sibongiseni Dhlomo, is quoted in...
Landmark study highlights importance of cholesterol monitoring of young adults
December 4th, 2019 Adults as young as 25, not only older people, need to know their “bad cholesterol” (non-HDL) levels so they can change their lifestyle or take drugs to protect themselves against heart attacks and strokes in later life. The landmark study,...NEWS RELEASE
Crowdfunding supports medical students amid a nationwide doctor shortage
South Africa’s current shortage of doctors and nurses is not a recent phenomenon. The problem of unfilled vacancies in the public sector has... December 4th, 2019The Marmite NHI
John Bercow, the speaker of the UK parliament, was recently referred to by a reporter as “the Marmite speaker”, writes Donald Dinnie,... December 4th, 2019WEEKLY ROUNDUP
Gauteng Health says it is tackling the cancellation of theatre procedures
Gauteng Health says it has put measures in place to address the cancellation of theatre procedures at the province’s academic hospitals, reports... December 4th, 2019FDA grants speedy review to AstraZeneca's lung cancer drug
British drugmaker AstraZeneca has announced that its immunotherapy cancer treatment Imfinzi has been granted a speedy review by the US medicines... December 4th, 2019Broomberg to lead Discovery's global Vitality health business
Discovery has appointed Jonathan Broomberg, the CEO of one of its largest and most profitable divisions, to lead a new business unit that will hold... December 4th, 2019Nursing vacancies in England set to double in next 10 years
The number of nursing vacancies across England will more than double over the next 10 years if action is not taken to improve recruitment, People... December 4th, 2019Controversial NHS plans to ration 'unnecessary' tests and treatments
Millions of patients in England will be stopped from having an X-ray on their sore back, hernia repair surgery or scan of their knee to detect... December 4th, 2019Deadly militia attacks could see resurgence of the DRC's Ebola epidemic
International organisations have warned of a potential resurgence of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after deadly militia attacks on... December 4th, 2019World Aids Day: SA to get new state-of-the-art HIV treatment
South Africans living with HIV will from 1 December be able to switch to a simpler, more affordable, more effective treatment, known as the TLD,... December 4th, 2019Gauteng improves capacity to cope with gender-based violence
Gauteng Health has launched a clinical forensic medical services facility during 16 days of activism in Bekkersdal. "The opening of the Bekkersdal... December 4th, 2019CARDIOLOGY
Oral hygiene linked to lower risk AF and heart failure
Improved oral hygiene care was associated with decreased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure, found a large Korean study. The... December 4th, 2019ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Study finds air-pollution's impact on health may be worse than thought
The number of health problems linked to air pollution could be far higher than previously thought. The Guardian reports that this is according to... December 4th, 2019ONCOLOGY
Immunotherapy boosts survival in prostate cancer 'super survivors'
Some men with advanced prostate cancer who have exhausted all other treatment options could live for two years or more on immunotherapy, a major...
December 4th, 2019
PAEDIATRICS
High amounts of screen time begin as early as infancy
Children's average daily time spent watching television or using a computer or mobile device increased from 53 minutes at age 12 months to more than... December 4th, 2019PSYCHOLOGY
Estimated 1 in 4 children and young people have problematic smartphone usage
A study by researchers at King’s College London has estimated that one in four children and young people use their smartphones in a way that is... December 4th, 2019SPORT & EXERCISE MEDICINE
Skiers have 50% lower incidence of depression and vascular dementia – but not Alzheimer's
Half as many skiers have been diagnosed with depression, a delayed manifestation of Parkinson's, a reduced risk of developing vascular dementia –...
December 4th, 2019