Tribute to TAC at 20!
The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) turns 20 today – International Human Rights Day – and our history would be much poorer without them.
Cabinet to decide on NHI Bill in January
Cabinet will convene a special meeting in January to discuss the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, according to government sources.
Health Ministry attacks NHI critics
The Health Ministry has condemned those who have criticised the speed at which the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill is being processed, claiming they want to “delegitimising” the process.
NHI Bill being pushed for elections?
The Presidency and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi seem intent on pushing the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill through Parliament before next year’s election despite major unanswered questions.
Litigation is in the air
Mpumalanga’s filthy air is likely to be the subject of court action, as environmental justice groups have grown tired of government giving Eskom’s coal-fired power stations free passes to pollute.
SADMON 5: When social media doesn’t go viral
While Sadmon’s management of the Department of Health’s Twitter account is not disastrous, there is little evidence of the kind of sophisticated social media campaigns one would expect as part of a R352 million contract. The evidence also shows that the Department of Health has not done particularly well on social media when compared to other government departments.
Oblivious to the killer within
Hypertension is South Africa’s biggest epidemic. But most people don’t know they have high blood pressure, and few of those on treatment have their blood pressure under control – partly because the medical profession doesn’t know what drugs work for Africans.
SA scientist honoured by HIV community
South African HIV scientist Professor Linda-Gail Bekker was awarded the 2018 Desmond Tutu Award for HIV Prevention Research and Human Rights last night (21 October) at a conference in Madrid, Spain.
Obesity: is it you or ‘the system’?
South Africans are getting fatter every year. Is it because we lack self-control or is it because big food companies are ruthlessly targeting this country? Kerry Cullinan, Amy Green and Pontsho Pilane report.
New staff developments
Health-e is proud to welcome Pontsho Pilane as a senior writer for Health-e News. She has won multiple awards including the 2018 Discovery Health Journalist of the Year award. Pontsho is interested in exploring how gender, race and class intersect with healthcare.
EFF joins fight against alcohol abuse
Many South Africans sniff disapprovingly about narcotics while throwing back litres of alcohol – the most abused drug in the country. But global support for restricting alcohol use is growing, and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) intends to push for a ban on liquor advertising.
UN meeting: Individuals vs industry
Global leaders have put the onus on individuals to reduce “lifestyle” diseases rather than cracking down on industry in a global declaration to be adopted at today’s (27 September) UN High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases.