The Free State health department recently launched a programme to have medication for chronic conditions delivered to elderly patients’ homes. Deliveries will be made by health assistants or community health workers. These are usually community members who are trained in…
Top scientists, opinion leaders, civil society groups and politicians are calling on United States (US) policymakers to vote in favour of the continued funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The voting process – known as a…
Academics, activists and medical professionals have rung the alarm bell over the further deterioration of South Africa’s public health services if stringent budget-cutting measures are implemented immediately. South Africa has been facing fiscal strain with increased interest rates and high…
The COVID-19 procurement contracts South Africa signed with various pharmaceutical companies were “unethical, immoral, and imperial minded”, says Health Justice Initiative (HJI) director, Fatima Hassan. She says the contracts made no provision for transparency and government as the purchaser had…
Access to TB prevention treatment and antiretroviral (ARV) medication is about to get easier in South Africa. People will soon be able to get a range of HIV services from pharmacists with special training. South Africa’s HIV treatment programme is…
The Health Justice Initiative (HJI) says the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill provides no clarity on how medicine selection, procurement, pricing and access will be managed to ensure broad medicine access. HJI founder, Fatima Hassan says it’s unclear how the…
Officials from the health department briefed the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on the National Health Insurance (NHI) today. The NHI aims to provide access to quality and affordable health services to meet patients’ healthcare needs. Last week, the National…
Delaying legalising sex work in South Africa will impede the effective implementation of the new National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs. This is the warning from the South African National Aids Council (SANAC). Responding to the government’s decision…
Despite the availability of a new shorter treatment regimen for children with non-severe tuberculosis(TB), South African children are stuck with the longer six-month prescription. This is because the country failed to update guidelines for the management of childhood TB since…
Repeal of the legislation that punishes sex workers would have the greatest impact on the course of HIV epidemics across all settings. A third to a half of HIV infections would be averted in a decade, rendering decriminalisation the single, most effective intervention to avert new HIV infections amongst sex workers, according to epidemiologists.Â
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…
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