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.
Health Systems
Read More » Medical schemes exploit patients’ ignorance
Regulate private health prices, inquiry told
The long-awaited Competition Commission inquiry into private healthcare kicked off this week with an appeal for prices to be regulated
Department of Health denies allegations of hospital overcrowding
After Dr George Mukhari Hospital casualty patients complain of long waiting times, the Gauteng Department of Health has denied the hospital’s emergency section is overcrowded.
New hospital tenders allegedly give disabled the boot
People living with disabilities in northern Limpopo say they have been left without jobs after a change in tenders for hospital tuck shops allegedly gave disabled caters the boot.
Health Department denies allegations of frozen posts
The National Department of Health has denied allegations that provincial health departments may be ‘freezing posts' amid tight budgets.
The Big Chill: Health post freeze threatens services
Facing a R9-billion shortfall just to meet salary demands, provincial health departments are freezing posts. Whether couched openly in memos or hidden between the lines of spiralling bureaucracy, staff freezes may be South Africa's most significant threat to healthcare.
Report: Causes, implications and possible responses to staffing moratoria
The working paper by the Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP) outlines the causes and implications of alleged hiring freezes in seven provinces nationwide.
HPCSA is taking ‘corrective action’
The Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) is taking “corrective action” to address its shortcoming, which were identified by the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) set up by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi.
Limpopo patients bemoan doctor, ambulance shortages
Months after Ha-Mashau residents in Limpopo watched a man die as he waited for an ambulance for more than three hours, the community of more than 15,000 says their cries for a dedicated ambulance for the area continue to go unheard.
Taverns flourish as drinking legislation stalls
Alcohol remains a killer on the country's roads, and despite government proposals to curb drinking holes, taverns continue to flourish.
Online database: The National Health Research Database
The online, searchable portal serves as a repository of health-related past and present research conducted in South Africa.
Jubilee District Hospital celebrates 60 years
Gauteng's Jubilee District Hospital recently marked six decades of community service north of Pretoria.
Brief: Cannabinoids for Medicinal Use
This Medical Research Council brief summarises the key points of a systematic review evaluating the medicinal use of cannabis first published by Dr Penny Whiting in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Policy: Managing Patient Safety Incidents in South Africa
Released in December, this 56-page policy outlines the management of patient safety incidents, including the provision of feedback to patients, families and clinicians, as well as the sharing of lessons learned.
Get organised with our 2016 health calendar
Back at work? Get ready for 2016 and diarise important conferences, and training and scholarship opportunities with the click of a button via our calendar.