3.3 million Pfizer doses are due to expire on 31 March 2023, and a further 26 million vaccines doses will expire at the end of April. The most recent comprehensive report shows that South Africa currently has almost 30 million…
A year-long investigation into operations at the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (RMMC) has confirmed mothers slept on floors, the CEO was largely absent from duty and patient dignity was compromised. Releasing a report on the conditions at…
With loadshedding wreaking havoc on the health system, the National Department of Health (NDoH) plans to install inverters and solar panels in health facilities nationwide from June. “The declaration of loadshedding as a national state of disaster enables the…
Hospital services in parts of the country have been severely disrupted, as the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) strike continues for the third day. Nehawu said that all union members will withdraw their labour from the Charlotte…
Capetonians buy the healthiest food, Joburgers work out the most and Durbanites are not making healthy food choices. This is according to a study by Discovery Health’s lifestyle scheme, Vitality. The Obecity Index found the highest proportion of members with…
Pregnant women living in areas that are air pollution hotspots are at increased risk of giving birth to children with a cleft lip and palate (CLP). In a recent study, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRP) examined cases of…
The baby formula industry uses increasingly manipulative messaging to target healthcare professionals and mothers. This is one of the findings of the 2023 Lancet Breastfeeding Series released last week. The series of three reports highlights falling breastfeeding rates in…
There are currently 32,000 patients on surgery waiting lists in Gauteng’s public hospitals. And the provincial health department says these patients could wait up to five years for certain operations. Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) Gauteng chairperson, Monwabisi Mbasa,…
Relying on cellphone torchlights, unreliable generators and using cooler boxes to keep vaccines and other medicines at the correct temperatures are just some of the stresses healthcare workers face due to the electricity crisis gripping South Africa. And…
For two years, *Thandekile Ngwenya, a candidate attorney, has driven the same route to her workplace, a law firm in Rosebank, without incident. On 18 January, this changed. Due to load-shedding, the traffic lights were out, and Ngwenya felt herself…
South Africa is likely to experience even more malnutrition and obesity as the power crisis affects the quality of food children eat. Dr Edzani Mphaphuli, Executive Director at Grow Great,  said the impacts would be more apparent in about two…
The National Department of Health (NDoH) plans to reinvigorate its Covid-19 vaccination campaign, zooming in on booster doses. This is as a second case of the XBB.1.5 sub-variant was detected in the Western Cape. Department Spokesperson, Foster Mohale, said…
Three significant health-related bills are currently before Parliament, and if passed, could save lives and ensure sustainable futures. We break them down for you. 1. Creating a safe industry for future sex workers On 30 November 2022, Cabinet approved publishing…
 Over one year since the Mtengwane and Swanepoel families called on South Africans to register to become stem cell donors, only one of the two families had their prayers answered. The other family is still clinging to hope. Bomikazi…
A new report by the Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP) has highlighted the need for the scaling up of interventions within South Africa’s health system post-COVID-19. The pandemic had a severe impact on health services, with the report revealing considerably…