Pieter-Louis Myburgh reported in Daily Maverick (28 Oct 2024) that the Department of Health’s (DoH) R836m oxygen plant installation project for 55 government hospitals is under scrutiny due to the appointment of Bulkeng (Pty) Ltd. “Despite its questionable background, project overseer Independent Development Trust
Dis-Chem Pharmacies reported a 16.3% increase in headline earnings pes share(HEPS), reported Business Day (25 Oct 2024). Dis-Chem now owns 274 retail pharmacies and 53 baby stores.
Despite significant weight-loss benefits due to drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, an analysis of US health insurance claims reveals that these medications may drive healthcare costs higher rather than reducing obesity-related expenses, reported Reuters (25 Oct 2024). “According to data from Prime Therapeutics, a pharmacy benefits manager, US patients’ average annual medical expenses rose by 46% within two years of starting GLP-1 medications like Wegovy.
Clicks-branded and other pharmaceutical brands, grew by 10% in the year to August 2024, reported Business Times (27 Oct 2024). Generics comprise 59% of Clicks’ pharmacy sales by value and 69% by volume.