Patients using public health facilities in the Free State face hostile services, staff shortages, and long waiting times. Some patients have even reported being turned away and denied care. These are just some of the findings of a report published…
“I don’t even want to leave the house. I am scared that I might leak urine or faeces in public – this usually happens when I am at home. I am stressed most of the time, and live with consistent…
The quality and availability of water have been a major issue at two hospitals in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN). At Montebello Hospital in Ndwedwe families have to bring water when visiting sick relatives because the tap water at the hospital is…
The National Department of Health has less than 10 days to hand over all the copies of the Covid-19 vaccine procurement contracts to the Health Justice Initiative (HJI). This follows a court judgement handed down by the North Gauteng High…
Residents in over 96 villages in Giyani, Limpopo, have been relying on a single ambulance for medical emergencies since the beginning of the year. “When you contact the Giyani EMS station for an ambulance, they will tell you straight that…
Failed negotiations with the Western Cape government on Sunday means the protest action by the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) will continue until Wednesday 9 August. The taxi strike started last Thursday and has resulted in acts of public…
A recently launched report by the Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP) places a spotlight on possible corruption within the National Health Insurance (NHI) fund. The report highlights critical gaps in the health sector’s procurement and spending, and a lack of…
In 2020, Grace Kasongo*, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, gave birth at Steve Biko Academic Hospital. Following a stay of four days, she was billed R110 028, an amount she could not afford to pay. After informing the…
“I regret being a nurse in Limpopo. We are under-staffed and working under constant pressure. We are working with ‘skeleton’ teams and we have to do double the work, no matter how tired and fatigued we are,” says Shirly Sithole*.…
Critical stockouts and shortages of essential medications are among the leading issues faced by the North West Department of Health. Long waiting times, staff shortages and hostile services for key populations are other key challenges. Ritshidze, a community monitoring organisation,…
Experts say generative artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionise healthcare as a whole. It has the potential to improve patient care, reduce costs and make healthcare more accessible to everyone. Speaking at a webinar on harnessing Generative AI…
“I am currently sitting at home unemployed and frustrated as I am unable to fulfil my constitutional right to earn a living. The worst part is that I cannot be employed elsewhere without having done my community service work,” says…
The Mpumalanga Department of Health is faced with a dire shortage of human resources, which include doctors, pharmacist assistants, professional nurses and other staff. The recently released Mpumalanga State of Health report by Ritshidze, a community monitoring organisation, indicates that…
Social justice organisations say that the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill should be amended to grant access to asylum seekers and undocumented persons. The Bill that was recently approved by the National Assembly does not cater for the healthcare needs…
The SA Medical Association (SAMA) says fake doctors prey on members of the public who can’t afford healthcare. The HPCSA Inspectorate recently revealed 124 bogus doctors were arrested in the past three years. Established in 2014, the inspectorate started working…