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Thursday, 12 June, 2025

FOCUS: NHI

Alternative plans punted as NHI swamped in legal challenges

Venilla Yoganathan - 0
With legal challenges set to hold up the implementation of the National Health Insurance for a long time, key stakeholders have come up with alternative plans and interim measures to address the huge gaps in healthcare, and ensure that the private sector remains viable, writes MedicalBrief. Last week, the Health Funders Association (HFA), which has lodged legal proceedings against the NHI Act, presented an alternative to the scheme, drawing on a report commissioned from Genesis Analytics. This comes as the...
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NEWS UPDATE

New Covid-19 variant not detected in SA

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) had said there was “no need to panic” about the new Covid-19 variant known as Nimbus or NB.1.8.1, and that despite surges in Asia and elsewhere, thus far no local cases had been detected, although there had been increased cases of flu because of the winter season. The variant is a descendant of the Omicron lineage, meaning that current recommendations for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are still effective and no new public health actions are required, he added. It has been detected in 22 countries thus far – and while the NICD conceded that Covid testing...

SA's expired cancer strategy still to be replaced

With the incidence of cancers in South Africa predicted to almost double by 2030, government's strategy to combat cancer has not been updated for two years, writes Chris Bateman for MedicalBrief. The National Health Department director for non-communicable diseases, Dr Busisiwe Ndlovu, told a recent workshop that the official new cancer prevention and control strategy to replace the expired one was on the "verge” of being signed by the Director-General of Health, Dr Sandile Buthelezi. The expired strategy was still being used by the department but needed ‘evaluation and revision’, she added. She also admitted that the ministerial advisory committee...

Upgraded technology for Gauteng hospitals to reduce backlogs

New MRI machines have been installed at Steve Biko Academic Hospital and Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital by the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH), while radiology booking times and staffing have been prioritised in efforts to slash backlogs. Gauteng Health & Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko told The Citizen that new equipment was being supported by service-level agreements to prevent lengthy downtimes and ensure quick resolution of faults, and that other new technology was being explored. She said Steve Biko had recently replaced a decommissioned MRI unit, while Charlotte Maxeke commissioned a new machine in March. Chris Hani Baragwanath also has a functional...

Cape Town sees rise in foodborne illnesses

An escalation in foodborne illnesses – since July 2022 – has seen Cape Town’s microbiological lab testing nearly 5 000 food samples, just over the past 10 months, to verify that the products were safe to eat. BusinessLIVE reports that tests are conducted on ready-to-eat and dairy products, from sushi to baked goods, while the lab also tests samples in cases of foodborne illnesses. Food handling, production and processing environments, from manufacturers to retailers and takeaways to old age homes, informal traders and spaza shops, are all included in the sampling. “Since July 2024, the laboratory has received 4 853 samples...

Maties students launch SA’s first transplant support unit

A dedicated specialised support unit for organ donors, dubbed the “Life Pod”, was launched at Tygerberg Hospital last week, the first-of-its-kind facility in Africa. The Life Pod, the brainchild of Save7, an NPO established and managed by medical students at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, will provide specialised care for consented organ donors, maintaining their organs’ viability during the critical 12- to 36-hour period before transplant surgery. This crucial space addresses a fundamental bottleneck in the country’s transplant system: a shortage of ICU beds that often forces potential donors to be transferred to morgues before their organs can...

US physicians want investigation after Kennedy fires CDC vaccine panel

Outraged American physicians have called on HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to immediately reverse his decision to fire all 17 sitting members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP), and demanded a Senate investigation into his actions. Less than 24 hours after Kennedy announced he had removed all of the CDC’s vaccine advisors, American Medical Association (AMA) delegates passed an emergency resolution urging him to reverse this move during their annual meeting. They also directed AMA leadership to send a letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labour, and Pensions (HELP) Committee requesting an investigation into the firings, reports...

Peanut butter firm to cough up R500 000 for dodgy products

A Cape Town supplier – House of Natural Butters (trading as Eden All Butters) – has been slapped with a hefty R500 000 fine as part of a settlement agreement with the National Consumer Commission (NCC) for distributing “contaminated, decayed and impure” peanut butter. The National Consumer Tribunal confirmed the settlement, which follows a product safety investigation initiated when several products were found to contain high levels of aflatoxin, a toxic substance produced by certain moulds. The NCC said the supplier and the commission had entered into the settlement agreement on 25 February 2025, which was subsequently referred to the Tribunal. The...

Gates pledges his fortune to African health, education

Bill Gates will spend most of his wealth on improving health and education services in Africa over the next 20 years, the billionaire Microsoft co-founder pledged last week. In May, he had announced plans to spend more than $200bn through the Gates Foundation that he established with ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, 25 years ago, reports Axios. Once “virtually all” of the fortune of the former world’s richest man is gone, he said the Seattle-based philanthropic organisation would close on 31 December 2045. During a recent address at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, he said wanted to use the vast majority of...

Chinese hospitals to offer epidurals to boost childbirth rates

China has said that by the end of 2025, all tertiary level hospitals – those with more than 500 beds – must offer epidural anaesthesia during childbirth, in efforts to promote a “friendly childbearing environment” for women, according to a statement from the National Health Commission. Secondary hospitals, or those with more than 100 beds, must provide the services by 2027, it added, as authorities struggle to boost birth rates in the world’s second largest economy. Reuters reports that China’s population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024 with experts warning the downturn will worsen in the coming years. Around 30%...

MEDICO-LEGAL

Court 'gags' Carte Blanche over cardiologist's malpractice claims

The KZN High Court (Pietermaritzburg) has effectively gagged TV programme Carte Blanche from airing a story about patients who accuse a Durban cardiologist of malpractice. Tania Broughton writes in GroundUp that the allegations against Dr Ntando Peaceman Duze of serious harms from inserting stents unnecessarily were corroborated by independent experts, and that both the HPCSA and Life Healthcare are investigating the doctor. Duze, however, has claimed professional jealousy and witchcraft motivated the complaints. He was given multiple opportunities, for more than a week, to respond to the allegations, but instead, he launched an urgent application in the High Court last Friday, giving...

Wouter Basson accuses HPCSA of ‘persecution’

Wouter “Dr Death” Basson, who believes he is being “persecuted” by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), says charges relating to his actions from more than four decades ago are based on reasons and motivations other than protecting patients or the public. The subject of the HPCSA’s inquiry relates to his conduct as a soldier in the then SA Defence Force (SADF), not as a medical doctor, he has argued. Basson – former head of the apartheid government’s secret chemical and biological warfare programme, Project Coast – wants a permanent stay of proceedings against the renewed bid to convict...

Mother awarded R540 000 for late child’s brain damage

An Mpumalanga mother has been awarded R540 000 in damages after her son was born with severe cerebral palsy due to negligent staff at a local hospital, and who died at just six-years-old. She had initially claimed R4m from the provincial Health MEC, only claiming general damages on behalf of herself for the hardships she had to endure while looking after her son until his death: she blamed Embhuleni Hospital staff for his condition. The court earlier ruled that the provincial health authority was liable for 90% of the damages the mother could prove she had suffered, reports the Cape Times. It...

Psychologist to face misconduct probe over alleged ‘fabricated’ report

A Cape Town judge failed to be persuaded that he should halt an inquiry – for alleged unprofessional conduct – against a clinical psychologist accused of fabricating a court-sanctioned report on the well-being of a minor child. Two complaints relating to her professional conduct in October 2023 prompted the the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) to initiate action against Toni Raphael. The first was by a client alleging she had prepared a report for court proceedings related to the well-being of their child – in which she “claimed that she had interviewed people, including experts, when in fact...

Patients' alertness ignored in quest to harvest organs, finds US probe

Four years ago, an unconscious Kentucky man began to awaken as he was about to be removed from life support so his organs could be donated. Even though he cried out, pulled his legs to his chest and shook his head, officials still tried to continue. Now, a United States federal investigation has found that officials at the non-profit organisation in charge of co-ordinating organ donations in Kentucky ignored signs of growing alertness not only in that patient but also in dozens of other potential donors. The investigation examined about 350 cases in Kentucky over the past four years in which...

SOME RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS IN THE PAST WEEK

GASTROENTEROLOGY

US study supports lowering colon cancer screening age

Findings from a single-centre study in the United States has supported recommendations to lower the colorectal cancer screening age from 50 to 45, with the searchers suggesting that screening...

GENETICS

One in 36 men has hidden dementia risk gene – Perth study

Scientists have warned that men carrying two copies of a common genetic variant face double the risk of dementia, according to their findings from the ASPREE trial. The study, published...

HIV RESEARCH

Scientists hail ‘breakthrough’ in quest for HIV cure – Australian study

Researchers in Melbourne found a new way to force the HIV out of hiding inside human cells, saying the virus’ ability to conceal itself inside certain white blood cells...

IMMUNOTHERAPY

Phase 3 stomach cancer treatment trial shows positive results

AstraZeneca’s immunotherapy Imfinzi can help certain patients with early-stage stomach cancer, the company has said, buoyed by the data from the results from its phase 3 Matterhorn trial, which...

NEUROLOGY

Triptan safe in pregnancy, Norwegian study finds

Prenatal exposure to triptans, alone or with other migraine medications, was not linked to a significantly increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in children born to Norwegian mothers with...

OBSTETRICS

Common drug may reduce preterm births – Zimbabwe randomised trial

A study of almost 1 000 pregnant women in Zimbabwe found that a daily dose of a commonly used, safe and inexpensive antibiotic may have led to fewer babies...

ONCOLOGY

Older breast cancer patients using oestrogen cream lived longer – US study

American researchers have suggested that oestrogen creams may improve survival rates, despite previous fears they could stimulate cancer cell growth. This after their recent study showing that the creams, commonly...

ORTHOPAEDICS

Common bone medications linked to serious jaw disease – Finnish study

Certain medications used in the treatment of bone conditions, particularly when combined with corticosteroids, may significantly increase the risk of a rare but serious jaw disease, according to a...

ABOUT US

MedicalBrief is Africa’s authoritative weekly digest of medical matters, both on the continent and around the world. It brings you a succinct summary of the latest developments, both in news and research, with links to the original material. Contact us: info@medicalbrief.co.za

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