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…
The National Health Insurance Bill (NHI) is one step closer to implementation. On Tuesday the bill passed through the National Assembly with more than 205 members of parliament voting in favour of its implementation. 125 MPs voted against the bill. …
The cost of treating Hepatitis C In South Africa will drastically decrease in the coming months. Currently, a 3-month treatment course is R19,984 per patient. The National Health Department says the price cut will make treatment much more affordable. Health…
The decision by the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Health to adopt the National Health Insurance Bill (NHI) in its current form has concerned civil society organisations. The bill was first introduced in parliament in August 2019 and will now…
The entire Vhembe District in Limpopo, including five hospitals and several clinics have been without water since Monday. Protesting residents have shut down the pumping of the water supply at Nandoni Dam, the main water source. Neil Shikwambana, Limpopo Department…
Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) now boasts a new general stores dispensary worth R60 million. And it’s all thanks to the Gift of the Givers. Two years ago a devastating fire damaged the hospital’s stores facility and other sections of…
This International Nurses Day is bittersweet for many nurses working in South Africa’s public healthcare system. With the devastating shortage of nurses, ongoing wage battles, unsafe working conditions, and lack of resources, nurses say there is very little to celebrate.…
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