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Weekly Roundup
Alleged corruption at HPCSA a symptom of incompetence — Solidarity
The Solidarity Occupational Guild for Health Practitioners has strongly condemned the alleged corruption in the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPSCA), which could...
Cipla Medpro buys stake in Brandmed
Pharmaceutical manufacturer Cipla Medpro, a wholly owned subsidiary of Indian generic giant Cipla, has acquired a 30% stake in local digital health company Brandmed...
Papua New Guinea faces 'dangerous penis enlargement problem'
Doctors in Papua New Guinea have warned of a “nationwide problem” of men injecting foreign substances, including coconut oil and silicone, into their penises...
Cape Town primary healthcare clinics achieve platinum status
The City of Cape Town’s seven clinics have achieved platinum status in terms of the National Ideal Clinic Framework which aims at systematically correcting...
CMS takes Keyhealth to task for not paying out for PMBs
The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) says it’s “concerning” that Keyhealth Medical Scheme denied a member prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) for an overactive thyroid...
Roundup still sold in SA despite US cancer victim's multi-million jury award
Pharmaceuticals company Bayer says its subsidiary Monsanto will continue to sell its Roundup weed killer in South Africa despite a US jury last month...
Case of Congo fever reported in the Northern Cape
A case of deadly Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever has been confirmed in a 58-year-old man from Kimberley in the Northern Cape, reports The Times. A...
NICD's malaria alert for travellers during April holiday season
As we approach the holiday season, many will be travelling to malaria-endemic areas within South Africa and to neighbouring malaria-endemic countries. The map (below)...
EU may decide against health warning for suspected carcinogen
A suspected carcinogen found in spray paints, sun creams and varnishes will not receive a cautionary health label, under EU proposals. The Guardian reports...
Medicine shortages in the UK made worse by Brexit uncertainty
Medicines vital for managing epilepsy, cancer and life-threatening asthma attacks are among a record number of products which are currently facing shortages made worse...
Natmed's 2018 Annual Survey of Medical Malpractice Judgments released
Natmed Medical Defence has released its Annual Survey of Medical Malpractice Judgments of 2018.
The Natmed review of the medico-legal handed down in 2018 paints...
NICD's monthly update for March on communicable diseases
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says in the editorial of its latest monthly newsletter: “This month, parts of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi...
WC community health workers march for better salaries
About 200 community health workers marched to the Western Cape Health Department in Cape Town last week. Groundup reports that the march was organised...
Ground-breaking TB treatment programme launched in PE
A ground-breaking new programme, BEAT Tuberculosis has been launched in Port Elizabeth – a world first in the fight against drug resistant tuberculosis (DR...
KZN Health warning on drinking water after Vryheid diarrhoea outbreak
KwaZulu-Natal Health has urged residents of Vryheid and surrounding areas in the northern part of the province to only drink bottled water or water...
Mozambique launches cholera vaccination campaign
Mozambique is to start a cholera vaccination campaign this week in areas ravaged by Cyclone Idai, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said, after five...
Royal College report finds large gender pay gap in the NHS
Male doctors in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) earn 17% more, on average, than their female peers. The Guardian reports that this is...
Future uncertain for Nazareth House hospice patients
The future is uncertain for 20 hospice patients at the Catholic Church-owned Nazareth House care centre in Yeoville, Johannesburg, who received a notice three...
US secretary of state defends 'Global Gag Rule' on pregnancy termination
Claiming that the “vast majority of our implementing partners have agreed to comply” with the policy expanded by US President Donald Trump banning any...
Khayelitsha community forum gears up to keep paramedics safe
The Khayelitsha Health Forum says that paramedics should not have to fear for their safety when on duty. Eyewitness News reports that this is...
NHC: Vote canvassing at hospitals and clinics 'a very bad practice'
As political parties intensify their campaigns ahead of the 8 May general elections, the National Health Council (NHC) led by Health Minister Dr Aaron...
Pretoria pharmacist arrested for allegedly running a drug lab
A 55-year-old pharmacist and his partner have been arrested for allegedly operating a drug laboratory in Vasfontein, Hammanskraal, just outside Pretoria, reports News24. The...
Arrest of bogus doctor in registered Gauteng practice
The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has announced that a bogus doctor was arrested in Nigel in Gauteng following a tip-off, reports...
FDA's first approval of a drug to treat postpartum depression
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Zulresso (brexanolone) injection for intravenous (IV) use for the treatment of postpartum depression (PPD) in adult...
FDA warns on cybersecurity vulnerabilities in Medtronic devices
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that cybersecurity vulnerabilities were identified in Medtronic’s implantable cardiac devices, clinic programmers, and home monitors.
But,...
Kenya commits to healthcare sector regulation at AMCOA workshop
The Kenyan government has assured Kenya’s medical regulatory body of continued support to rid the health sector of unprofessional and unethical medical practice. The...
Gender inequity in global health — WHO report
Gender inequity remains a challenge in the health workforce, with too few women making critical decisions and leading the work. The World Health Organisation...
Limpopo Health MEC unrepentant about 'inexperienced' appointments
Limpopo Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba has stuck to her guns, saying she does not regret appointing “young and energetic individuals” to senior positions in...
State has until September to finalise culpable homicide case against Durban dentist
The State has until September to finalise its case in the trial of Durban dentist Anwer Jeewa who faces a charge of culpable homicide...
French obs/gynae union threatens to halt abortions over lack of medical error insurance
A French gynaecologists’ union has threatened to halt pregnancy terminations in an attempt to force the country’s health minister to meet disgruntled doctors. The...
New TB treatment, tested in SA, goes before FDA for approval
A promising new treatment for extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis (TB) that was tested in South Africa has been submitted to US regulators, taking its...
Amazon removes books promising autism cures from its site
Books that promise cures for autism through potentially dangerous therapies have been quietly removed from Amazon, reports The Guardian. The removals followed an exposé...
Widespread ignorance of links between diet and cancer — World Cancer Research Fund
Many adults fail to understand the links between diet and cancer. According to the World Cancer Research Fund survey, only 58% of baby boomers –...
SA shortage of Aids drug putting lives at risk
The health of thousands of Aids patients has been placed at risk with the shortage of an antiretroviral drug affecting the country, says a...
'Toxic' working environment at Tygerberg communication centre
A report by workers at the Tygerberg Hospital communication centre described the working environment as “toxic”. According to a Cape Argus report, the report,...
Global shortage of DT vaccine shortage fuels SA anxiety
South Africa’s protracted nationwide shortage of a child vaccine aimed at protecting two common, yet life-threatening diseases, has left a slew of anxious parents...
SA trying to lose its polio 'pariah group' status
South Africa is part of a ‘pariah group’ of countries not yet certified polio-free, thanks to weaknesses in our disease surveillance and vaccination programme....
Fears mount for safety of SA doctor missing in Syria
Fears are mounting for the safety of a South African doctor who is missing in Syria. The Times quotes attorney Yousha Tayob as saying...
African Academy of Sciences report on improving maternal, neonatal and child health
The African Academy of Sciences and The Academy of Medical Sciences have published a report detailing ways to improve maternal, neonatal and child (MNCH)...
WHO announces wide-ranging reforms
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced the most wide-ranging reforms in the organisation’s history to modernise and strengthen the institution to play its...