Some spaza shop owners in Khayelitsha are selling Department of Health (DoH) formula milk that is marked "Not for resale". This milk is supposed to be given free to HIV-positive mothers to give to their babies instead of breast milk. By Mary-Jane Matsolo, GroundUp
The issues surrounding universal health coverage ' how an adequate standard of health care can be provided to all people ' have never been more controversial or politically relevant than now. Globally, paying for medical expenses out of pocket is still the dominant method of meeting health care costs, and WHO estimates published in 2010 suggest that more than a billion people cannot use the health services they need, either because they are not available, or because they cannot afford to use them.
Many South Africans are too poor to access free healthcare provided by the state, mostly due to the cost of transport.
Another day. Another story about state patients dying and suffering. Another distressed letter from desperate health workers. Another call for action and accountability from civil society. Another statement from government. Another day in Gauteng.
The Council for Medical Schemes has just released its latest Annual Report, for the 2011-2012 financial year. Read it here.
Mediclinic has commented on the CMS Annual Report, read their statement here.
The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) has lodged a complaint with the Public Protector against the KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo and the provincial health department over its continued use of the Tara KLamp (TK) in male circumcisions.
The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in Gauteng says it will take the Health Department to court to force them to deliver quality health care to the citizens of the province should they fail to do so.
SECTION27has called for national intervention in the Gauteng health department and needs-based budgeting to ensure 'everyone has a right of access to health care services'.
Certain patients living the Western Cape and making use of public health services will be able to lodge their complaints via a system which enables patients to call, text or e-mail a complaint with a same-day response.
Newly appointed Gauteng Health MEC has a huge task of ridding his department free of corruption. Democratic Alliance Health spokesperson, Jack Bloom says the department's financial crisis is transparent of the corruption within.
Newly appointed Gauteng Health MEC, Hope Papo, is determined to turn things around in his beleaguered department. In an interview this week, the MEC expressed his dissatisfaction with the department's current state of affairs.
A South African AIDS activist and two of the country's top HIV doctors have tackled a well-respected journalist and author regarding what they believe are a number of errors regarding the country's epidemic and the benefits of ARVs. By Nathan Geffen, Francois Venter and Francesca Conradie
Activists met with new Gauteng Health MEC Hope Papo this week. Read their statement here.
New United Nations data shows great gains in AIDS treatment coverage, but countries most affected by the AIDS epidemic continue to struggle to place enough people on treatment, mainly due to cuts in donor funding.
