Thursday, 28 March, 2024
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IRR report: Deficiencies in state health sector doom NHI to failure

An Institute of Race Relations report says that the proposed National Health Insurance is a 'noble goal' but will destroy private healthcare and medical...

Right-to-die doctor could face multiple murder charges

The arrest for murder of Professor Sean Davison, a medical doctor and founder of Dignity SA, five years after the assisted death of quadriplegic, Dr Anrich Burger,...

Electrical stimulation of spinal cord gets 2 paralysed people walking

Two patients in an experimental US rehabilitation programme for paralysed people have been able to walk again thanks to electrical stimulation of their spinal...

Daily aspirin has 'no effect' on healthy life span in older people

Daily low-dose aspirin in healthy older adults without previous cardiovascular events did not prolong healthy, independent living (life free of dementia or persistent physical...

Dairy consumption linked to lower rates of CVD and mortality

Dairy consumption of around three servings per day is associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality, compared to lower levels of...

IARC report shows rising global toll of cancer

One in five men and one in six women around the world develop cancer during their lifetime. The Guardian reports that this is according...

Review of SA's 15 years of compulsory community service for doctors

The SA experience of compulsory Community Service (CS) over the first 15 years has been 'overwhelmingly positive', largely meeting objectives of redistribution of health...

Whole grains substantially reduce type 2 diabetes risk 15-year study

A large Swedish study over 15 years found that eating any type of whole grain reduces the risk of type-2 diabetes. Among those who...

Medical cannabis provides symptom relief for a myriad of complaints

Medical cannabis can provide statistically and clinically significant relief from symptoms from dozens of health conditions with relatively minimal negative side effects, according to...

BHF calls on govt to regulate where private sector doctors work

The Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) has called on the government to consider regulating where private sector doctors and specialists work, in order to distribute...

Studies look at the benefits of aspirin for patients with CVD

A meta-analysis from 11 trials found that aspirin reduced the risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction by 22% and death by 6%, at the cost...

Mass hysteria blew simple complaint into a national issue – Health Ombud

Findings by Health Ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba that whistleblower claims of unacceptable practices at the Tower Psychiatric Hospital in the Eastern Cape were unfounded...

More accurate method of estimating body fat developed

Cedars-Sinai investigators have developed a simpler and more accurate method of estimating body fat than the widely used body mass index, or BMI.  Called the...

No safe level of alcohol consumption — 195-nation study

Giving up drinking completely is the only way to avoid the health risks associated with alcohol, according to a major study covering 195 countries over...

Low vaccination rates blamed for 'dramatic' surge in measles in Europe

A huge surge in measles across Europe has been reported by the World Health Organisation, which says low MMR vaccination rates are to blame....

Unpaywall transforms research as academic publishers start to crack

Unpaywall is a free service locates open-access articles and presents paywalled papers that have been legally archived and are freely available on other websites to...

Both low-carb and high-carb diets raise risk of early death — 25-year study

A large US study over 25 years indicates that moderate carb consumption – switching meat for plant-based protein and fats – is healthier than...

Medical malpractice 'cartel' cost SA least R60bn – Motsoaledi

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is investigating a long-running medical malpractice scam involving collusion between law firms and state attorneys that has cost government...

Surprise HIV finding in SA circumcision study

Circumcision is a proven intervention that reduces the chance of contracting HIV by 60%, but a study has found that medically circumcised older men...

EU seeks to restrict chemicals in tattoo inks over cancer fears

The EU’s chemicals watchdog has concluded that substances found in tattooing inks may pose a cancer risk, although there is no direct evidence, and...

Women more likely to survive heart attack if treated by female doctor

A large US study found higher mortality among female heart attack patients treated by male doctors than those treated by women. Male and female...

Gauteng's hospitals of harm

More than 20‚000 patients have been harmed at state hospitals in Gauteng in the space of two-and-a-half years,  according to official statistics. Chris Hani Baragwanath is...

No alcohol or too much increases dementia risk

Both abstention and consumption of more than 14 units of alcohol a week during middle age, increases dementia risk found a large international study. Every...

Health Science dean's suicide spotlights SA workplace stress

The suicide of Professor Bongani Mayosi – a cardiologist‚ researcher‚ and dean of health sciences at the University of Cape Town – has been...

ACC review: Plant-based diet with little or no animal products is best

Researchers from the American College of Cardiology's Nutrition & Lifestyle Workgroup of the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Council have released their second review of nutritional...

Cancer patients using alternative therapies decrease survival chances

Cancer patients who use alternative therapies are be more likely to shun conventional treatments and risk their chances of survival, a study of 1,290...

Use of adrenaline doubles risk of brain damage in cardiac arrest patients

A clinical trial of the use of adrenaline in cardiac arrests has found that its results in less than 1% more people leaving hospital...

'Dangerous complacency' risks resurgence of HIV pandemic — Lancet Commission

A ‘dangerous complacency’ in response to the global HIV pandemic is risking a resurgence of the disease, found theLancet Commission, led by the International...

Bedaquiline significantly reduces XDR- and MDR-TB mortality

Bedaquiline-based regimens are associated with 'striking' reductions in mortality in patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis, University of Cape Town and Department of Health research has...

Antibody blood test to detect melanoma in its early stages

Australian researchers are claiming a breakthrough with a blood test for early stage melanoma. In a trial involving 105 patients with melanoma and 104 healthy...

VR success in treating fear of heights — randomised controlled trial

A virtual reality (VR) programme was more successful in treating fear of heights than the results expected with the best psychological intervention delivered face to...

Health Market Inquiry: ‘Nothing we don't already know', says Health Minister

The four-year long Competition Commission Health Market Inquiry's finding reveal what Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says he already knew – that South Africa's private healthcare...

Not true that large chunks of healthcare spending go to futile end-of-life care

Around 25% of Medicare spending in the US occurs in the last year of people's lives. This is sometimes discussed as a questionable use...

SA's private pharmacies are Gollums, not trusted gatekeepers

Instead of being the trusted gatekeepers they are supposed to be, South Africa's commercial pharmacies are like Gollum from Lord of the Rings -...

Fury over HPCSA actions on foreign doctors

The forced return to France of the first doctor to prescribe antiretrovirals in SA, has sparked an impassioned call from Treatment Action Campaign for...

DA demands action on University of Limpopo MBChB

In the light of the Public Protector’s report on on the  ‘improper’ alteration of the University of Limpopo's MBChB curriculum, its council must consider...

Brickbats and bouquets for NHI and Medical Schemes Bills

A medical brain drain could be a consequence of the Medical Schemes Amendment Bill and the National Health Insurance Bill gazetted last week, says...

Marriage may make the heart beat stronger and longer

Marital status appears to influence cardiovascular disease (CVD) and prognosis, according to the largest yet meta-analysis. Not being married was associated with heightened risk...

Study on first birth cohort to receive HPV vaccine

Girls in the first birth cohort to receive the HPV vaccine showed a lower degree of dysplasia which may eventually lead to cervical cancer...

SA makes history with 'bold' move on DR-TB drug

South Africa's 'bold' announcement that all drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) patients will be eligible to receive the new medicine, bedaquiline, move may influence the World Health...