The inability of the government to offer doctors proper salaries in the Occupational Specific Dispensation that is currently debated, could lead to the collapse of the health system nationally, as doctors threaten to embark on a strike.
The frustrations of young doctors bubbled to the surface recently when a group went on strike and lashed out at the South African Medical Association, claiming it was not representing the best interests of doctors in the bargaining chamber. Dissatisfied doctors have split from SAMA and formed a splinter group, the United Doctors Forum. Thousands of doctors will take to streets on Friday in protests against low salaries, horrible working conditions and lack of leadership from the health department. Health-e spoke to the two doctors' factions.
Dr Lesego Pooe tells health-e what caused him and his colleagues to break free from SAMA thus forming UNDF a movement that aims to outshine SAMA's efforts in assisting doctors.
Introducing himself to the media last week, new Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, acknowledged that public sector health professionals, including doctors, are under-paid.
Public sector doctors are preparing to stage a national march to communicate their frustration at the revised pay package government is offering. A national strike is also possible if government does not accede to their salary demands.
The national health department and the Medicines Control Council (MCC) have failed to respond to a warning from South Africa's top pharmacology academics and experts that the South African market is being flooded with all kinds of quack remedies and dubious 'medicines'.
MAGAGADE: (PlusNews) - Not much information about HIV and AIDS has reached people in the remote village of Magagade, in the Caia district of central Mozambique's Sofala Province. There is no electricity or piped water and the roads are so bad that Manuel Colaço, 22, had to travel there by bicycle to teach residents about how the disease is transmitted and treated.
DAR ES SALAAM: (PlusNews) - Bars and nightclubs in several Tanzanian cities will soon have condom vending machines in the bathrooms as part of national efforts to combat HIV.
Outlining his departmental plans at a media briefing in Pretoria, new Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, said he has been 'ordered to hit the ground running'. He announced five key priorities, one of which is to strengthen the quality of care in the health service.
When HIV enters the body, it predisposes the person to several mental illnesses, one of which is Depression. This report explores the link between HIV and depression.
Government has revealed the 'National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan' in the event of an outbreak of Swine Flu in the country.
All nine provinces have now appointed their health MECs. Some of the appointees appear to be unknown outside of their province with very little or no information available on their political careers. Others are senior office bearers in the ANC and its alliance partners.
Many in the health sector have expressed disappointment over the removal of Barbara Hogan as health minister and have adopted a wait-and-see attitude towards her largely unknown replacement Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Education MEC in Limpopo.
While South Africans wait with baited breath whether incoming President Jacob Zuma re-appoints Barbara Hogan as health minister, Time magazine included her in their top 100 list of the world's most influential people.
The South African government has re-assured the nation of its ability to contain any Swine Flu outbreak. The flu first broke out in Mexico about two weeks ago.
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