Health Systems

NHI is a boost to health

Health Systems

OPINION:The ANC proposed national health insurance (NHI) as seen through the ideological lense by Jasson Urbach of the Free Market Foundation in the Sowetan of 21 October 2009, which he labels a 'threat to health,' is nothing but a scare tactic designed to persuade the public and policy makers to abandon the idea of implementing it. Once the government releases the policy proposal for public and stakeholder consultation, it will become clear that the arguments used in such negative campaigns are not well founded.

Olive Shisana
November 9, 2009

Anthony Mbewu is made director of GFHR: Is this an appropriate appointment?

Health Systems

Anthony Mbewu, the current President of the Medical Research Council of South Africa (MRC), has been appointed the Executive Director of the Swiss-based Global Forum for Health Research (GFHR). Is this an appropriate appointment? By Nathan Geffen.

Health-e News
November 5, 2009

Motsoaledi announces his NHI team

Health Systems

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has announced his 25-person team which will advise him on the National Health Insurance plan crafted by the ANC. The team includes among others academics, pharmacists, researchers and the private healthcare industry. Chair of the ANC's NHI task team Dr Olive Shisana will also chair Motsoaledi's committee.

Health-e News
November 5, 2009

Saving Africa’s children Living with AIDS # 410

Health, Health Systems, Women's Health

Africa has the largest number of children living with HIV. A campaign launched recently seeks to mobilize political will and financial resources to overcome the bottle-necks that hinder services for children who have HIV and to prevent HIV infection in children.

Health-e News
October 29, 2009

Building a health system that withstands leadership change

Health Systems

Former colleagues describe Dr Molefi Sefularo as a change agent and the tonic South Africa's beleaguered health system needs. The former North West health MEC was last year appointed as deputy health minister and was recently handed a list of critical responsibilities not traditionally reserved for deputies. Anso Thom of Health-e News Service spoke to him in his Cape Town office.

Health-e News
October 26, 2009

Dep. Minister pushes for ring-fencing of budget

Health, Health Systems

The health ministry is pushing for the national health budget to be ring-fenced and is looking at the establishment of South African National AIDS Council (SANAC)-type implementation bodies that function separately from the department and have oversight over all the role-players.

Health-e News
October 12, 2009

Desperate need for research on tik and pregnancy

Health, Health Systems

CAPE TOWN - A study conducted among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town has found that 10% of the prospective mothers were abusing the drug Methamphetamine or tik as it is know in the Western Cape.

Health-e News
October 8, 2009

Antenatal HIV prevalence at 29.3% – Report

Health, Health Systems

The Minister of Health, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi spoke at the recent launch of the 2008 National Antenatal Sentinel HIV and Syphilis Prevalence Survey.

Health-e News
October 7, 2009

Silent deaths

Health, Health Systems, Women's Health

CAPE TOWN - More than one-million babies are stillborn during labour every year ' 98% in low- and middle-income countries - yet global policy discussions around these largely silent deaths are mostly nonexistent. On top of this another 904 000 babies die soon after birth due to birth complications, closely linked to almost half of the world's 536 000 maternal deaths.

Health-e News
October 7, 2009

Putting faith in mid-level workers paying off

Health Systems

CAPE TOWN 'African countries, much poorer and less resourced than South Africa, are using trained mid-level health workers to perform tasks traditionally reserved for doctors, including surgery, and in the process saving the lives.

Health-e News
October 5, 2009

Lack of funds threatens ARV programmes

Health, Health Systems

Six provinces may run out of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs as a result of a financial shortfall experienced by the Department of Health totalling one billion rand.

Health-e News
September 29, 2009

Towards a lively, accountable AIDS council Living with AIDS # 405

Health, Health Systems

Dr Nono Simelela, newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer of the South African National AIDS Council, promises to improve the way in which SANAC will function in the future.

Health-e News
September 17, 2009

Mseleku axed

Health Systems

Health department Director General Thami Mseleku, a destructive leftover from former health minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang's reign, will leave the end of the month, with the Western Cape's Director-General for Health Professor Craig Househam set to step in.

Health-e News
September 17, 2009

Strengthening PMTCT

Health, Health Systems, Women's Health

More infants could be born free from HIV in South Africa. This follows the recent introduction of the National Plan for Acceleration of the Prevention of Mother to Child HIV Transmission programme, or PMTCT A-Plan.

Health-e News
September 15, 2009

Ambitious NHI timeline leaves little space for public comment

Health Systems

Government publishes an ambitious timetable for preparing health institutions for the National health Insurance scheme - but leaves virtually no space for public comment

Health-e News
September 11, 2009

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