Consumers using prescription drugs are confused and it'€™s hardly surprising. The health department recently implemented a range of regulations to reduce the price of prescription medicines and to ensure transparency. Opposition from pharmacists has added to the confusion and, in some instances, a hike in drug prices.
Parliament'€™s social cluster group, lead by health minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, presented a progress report in parliament last week which included updates on the national school nutrition programme, the extension of the child support grant, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
After many delays, South Africa has a new National Health Act. The framework legislation is due to become operational in the coming weeks, once signed into law by the President. Health-e summarises the issues that the Act addresses.
A report on the Department of Health's delivery over the past decade, first published in the South African Health Review in July 2004.
An assessment of the Department of Health's delivery over the past decade earns it a mixed report. This article was first published in the South African Health Review in July 2004.
January 2005 is the target date for the introduction of community service
for nurses - but there is still much to be done for the Department of Health
to meet its deadline and accommodate the more than 1 000 newly qualified
nurses who are due to enter the health system next year.
A group of youngsters brought a hush to Parliament'€™s Old Assembly chamber this week when they spoke about their lives of poverty and hardship and how they thought the proposed Children'€™s Bill could create a happier future for them.
CAPE TOWN - A group of youngsters brought a hush to Parliament'€™s Old Assembly chamber this week when they spoke about their lives of poverty and hardship and how they thought the proposed Children'€™s Bill could create a happier future for them.
Parliament is hearing submissions on the Children'€™s Bill this week. Among those appearing before the Social Development Portfolio Committee is a group of children known as Dikwankwetla, or Children in Action, who made submissions based on their concerns.
Half of the country'€™s nurses are working in private hospitals and some 42 000 posts are vacant. HIV/AIDS is worsening the distribution of health personnel around the country. These are some of the findings of the 2004 South African Health Review.
Growth in spending on health personnel masks the abolition of 19 000 filled posts while spending levels on health care per person has declined since the mid-1990s.
South Africa'€™s northwestern neighbour has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world. With 38 percent of its 1,7 million population infected with HIV, Botswana has shown determined leadership in providing free antiretroviral therapy to all its citizens who need it.
More young adults, children under five, babies and women in childbirth are dying now than a few years back, both as a result of HIV/AIDS and the deterioration of health services In addition, chronic diseases associated with poor diet, smoking, excessive drinking and lack of exercise are on the increase.
HIV/AIDS and lifestyle diseases are the chief causes of death among South Africans, doctors and nurses continue to leave the country and health spending is not keeping pace with what is needed. All in all, we'€™re not looking too healthy.
The Medicines Control Council, has recommended to the Health Ministry that it stop using nevirapine as a single agent in the prevention of mother-to-child-HIV-transmission. Health-e caught up with the Registrar of medicines Precious Matsoso, at the XV International AIDS
Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, and asked her why the MCC made the decision.
