Staff shortages, poor leadership cripple healthcare
There is a human resource crisis in healthcare that is driven partly by government tolerance of incompetent staff, according to Health Systems Trust’s South African Health Review 2016
Kerry Cullinan
Read More »Staff shortages, poor leadership cripple healthcare
World endorses more ‘war on drugs’
The world’s hardline "war on drugs" has resulted in violence, criminalised drug users and exacerbated HIV and Hepatitis C infection. Yet the UN has just endorsed a similar approach.
Drugs: World contemplates punishment or rehabilitation
The prohibition of illegal drugs has failed to stop drug use, instead fanning a massive and violent black market. This week, the UN meets to discuss whether its ‘war on drugs’ approach needs to change
A practical guide to preparing to die
Do you want to die in hospital full of tubes, or peacefully at home with loved ones? Now is the time to make proper arrangements, warns Hospice Palliative Care Association of SA (HPCA).
Mbeki still believes his own AIDS propaganda
Former President Thabo Mbeki has defended his controversial stance on HIV, which has been blamed for the deaths of at least 330,000 South Africans. For Health-e News Managing Editor Kerry Cullinan, Mbeki's letter finally answers a question that's haunted her for years.
Private healthcare: The blame game
The Competition Commission’s inquiry into private healthcare has changed focus, with medical schemes and administrators doing their best to blame others for the cause high price of private care.
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Hospitals, specialists ‘overgrazing’ medical aid members
Private hospital and specialists’ fees need to be regulated to contain costs for medical scheme members, according to the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF).
Vaginal ring offers partial HIV protection
A vaginal ring that releases antiretroviral (ARV) medicine slowly over a month provides women with moderate protection against HIV infection.
Private care exposed as costly, insensitive
After a week of public hearings into private healthcare, medical aids came out looking insensitive, while fees charged by hospitals and specialists were also hammered.
Medical schemes exploit patients’ ignorance
Medical schemes avoid covering their members for treatment they are obliged to cover by law, and patients pay up because they don’t know their rights.
Some docs blame pesticide not Zika
A group of doctors believe that a pesticide – not the Zika virus - may be responsible for the huge increase in microcephaly in Brazil, but health ministry disputes this
Alzheimer’s Disease: Forgetting about the elderly
Ageing brings a smorgasbord of health issues that South Africa is barely grappling with. Dementia is one of these, yet a lot can be done to slow down its progression - if only someone would pay attention.