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News Update
Covid jab study grinds to a halt after recruitment struggles
In an indication of the growing resistance to vaccinations and amid a groundswell of pushback from both the US administration and weak public demand,...
Pregnant women ignore experts, swayed by Trump’s autism theories
Despite the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the American Academy of Paediatrics emphasising that the science does not clearly tie Tylenol use...
KZN Health MEC slams group's anti-ARV ‘genocide’ teachings
A religious community in KwaZulu-Natal that is encouraging members to abandon modern medicine – including antiretroviral (ARV) treatment – in favour of faith healing,...
New ‘Cicada’ Covid strain appears to be low risk – Gavi
The latest BA.3.2 “Cicada” Covid-19 strain poses only a “low additional public health risk”, say Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, after news that the “highly...
School for the blind still unfinished after eight years and R200m
A semi-completed R198m campus at the Rivoni School for the Blind in Limpopo has been left to rot after multiple delays and while pupils...
Kenyan president slams healthcare scheme critics
President William Ruto has dismissed criticism of the government’s Social Health Authority (SHA), saying opponents lack the capacity to understand or interpret the scale...
One of separated conjoined twins dies following sepsis
One of the conjoined twins from Limpopo, separated during groundbreaking and complex surgery at Mankweng Hospital, died last Friday after complications from post-operative infections,...
Popular Pretoria paramedic killed in B&B
The body of a former paramedic, who has been described as popular and dedicated, was found in a Pretoria guesthouse on Friday morning in...
R16bn deal clinches Remgro’s full control of Mediclinic
In a complex R16bn agreement, Remgro and its Swiss-based investment partner, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), will give the Johann Rupert-chaired firm full control of...
After 10 years, ambulances at last for Wild Coast village
After a decade-long struggle with the Eastern Cape Department of Health, desperate Xhora Mouth residents on the Wild Coast will finally have an ambulance...
UFS biobank a major boost for local research
Residents of the Free State have long been under-represented in biobanks and biomedical research, but the recently established biobank at the University of the...
ANC bigwig’s daughter to repay millions in PPE contract scandal
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed the two judgments handed down by the Special Tribunal last week, which reviewed and set aside unlawful...
Court denies ‘Dr Death’s’ plea to halt HPCSA proceedings
The High Court in Pretoria has dismissed an application by Cape Town cardiologist Dr Wouter Basson – ‘Dr Death’ – that would grant him...
DA flags cardiac patient deaths at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital
Cardiac outcomes at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital require an urgent investigation by the Health Ombud, according to DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack...
Surgical crisis at Grey’s Hospital as aircon upgrade drags on
Staff and patients at Pietermaritzburg’s Grey’s Hospital are battling with ongoing surgical crises due to a malfunctioning HVAC system, with operations cancelled – and...
CMS plans code of conduct for fraud probes after racism complaints
Parliament has been assured by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) that it will implement the recommendations of the section 59 investigation into alleged...
Court lashes department over non-compliance in vigilante case
The Department of Health and other government respondents have failed to comply with a court order to stop anti-immigrant vigilantes from screening patients, and...
Motsoaledi vows action after hospital patient deaths
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has lashed out at “inhumane” treatment that led to a psychiatric patient’s death, saying conduct exposed in a recent scathing...
FDA wants drug pulled, warns of fatal liver injuries
Eight deaths and dozens of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) cases have been linked to a medication the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) wants...
Sanitary pad saga – MPs call for regulatory reforms
MPs have called for regulatory changes to be explored, including possible amendments to make the criteria of the SA Bureau of Standards (SABS) compulsory,...
MEC claims private ambulance left patient ‘on roadside’
KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma has claimed private ambulance service ALS Paramedics had left a patient, without medical aid, stranded on the side of...
Only 3% of South Africans using condoms as STIs rise
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise in South Africa, and while exact numbers are difficult to pinpoint, regional data paint a worrying...
Cape team pioneers cryoablation for thyroid cancer
In what is described as a monumental step forward for cancer treatment in South Africa, a team at the UCT Private Academic Hospital successfully...
Report flags safety of NHS diabetic patients in British hospitals
A report from Britain’s Health Services Safety Investigations Body has uncovered persistent and significant safety risks facing patients with insulin‑dependent diabetes when they are...
Pope blesses xenotransplantation for Catholics
New guidance from the Vatican says Catholics are permitted to receive transplants of animal tissues for specific medical conditions – this as advancements in procedures involving genetically modified pig...
Fruit squash drink pulled from shelves
Batches of a popular fruit squash drink have been recalled by the the National Consumer Commission (NCC), which said nearly 3 000 cases of...
Illegal Midrand doctor nabbed after 10 years
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said that 20 unregistered doctors were arrested in the 2025/2026 financial year for practising illegally, including one in Midrand...
Eli Lilly to withdraw some insulin products from Europe
Eli Lilly is scaling back its insulin footprint in Europe, with plans to discontinue a swathe of products for “commercial reasons”, while increasingly leaning...
Local engineer launches affordable, effective prosthetic knee
A young South African engineer, who has designed what she says is the country’s first affordable prosthetic knee, says there is a massive gap...
Medical aids in 'witch-hunt' of physiotherapists, Pretoria study finds
The processes used by medical schemes to carry out forensic audits on physiotherapists are unfair, suggests a recent study, which revealed troubling ethical and...
Momentum to spend millions, hire hundreds, for Bonitas takeover
Momentum appears unconcerned about the NHI or a legal challenge from Medscheme, with CEO Jeanette Marais saying the company will fork out millions and...
Police officers arrested over ‘Cat’ Matlala health contract
A dozen police officers have been arrested by the National Prosecuting Authority’s Independent Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) in connection with a R360m health contract linked...
GEMS faces funding shortfall amid union pressure
The Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) revealed a funding shortfall this week of roughly R2bn after healthcare claims outpaced member contributions in 2025, adding...
Ozempic goes generic for billions of people worldwide
Novo Nordisk is on the verge of losing patent protection for its blockbuster weight loss drug in India, China and several other nations, opening...
KZN’s emergency medical services in dire straits
Life support is urgently needed for the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in KwaZulu-Natal, according to a recent report, which found that more than half...
MP calls for scrapping of costly medical scheme
Members of Parliament and other office bearers should be allowed to choose their own medical scheme, and not be made to sign up for...
Hospital patients battling without hot water for three months
Patients at Pholosong Regional Hospital in Tsakane, Gauteng, have been struggling to bath or shower for nearly three months – with visitors having to...
Cape dental students protest against delayed lectures
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) has denied that dental classes for 2026 have not yet started – despite protesting students saying lectures...
Millions diverted from circumcision project to actress and cronies
The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) has revealed that R20.56m in grant funding for a circumcision project from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) was instead...
US hospital sues to evict patient who won’t leave
Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare has sued a patient who refuses to leave her hospital room, despite being discharged in October, reports AP.
The hospital has also...