SA accuses states of being pressurised by big pharma

Countries opposing the vaccine patent waiver at the World Trade Organisation are responsible for 60 percent of the globally-administered Covid-19 vaccines, while 130 countries have not received a single dose, South Africa argued at the formal TRIPS Council meeting on Tuesday. Ten countries have so far administered 75 percent of all Covid-19 vaccines, despite a warning from the World Health Organisation’s chief Tedros Ghebreyesus that the longer it would take to suppress the virus, the more time it would have to mutate, reported News24 (24 Feb 2021).

Health budget slashed by R67.2-bn

In his Budget Speech on Wednesday February 24, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has announced a R67.2-bn cut to the country's health expenditure over the medium-term.

Discovery Medical Scheme plans merger with Quantum Medical

ccording to a notice on Discovery’s website Discovery Health Medical Scheme plans to merge with Quantum Medical Aid Society on April 1, 2021.

‘Health Minister’s ‘family friend’ pocket Covid-19 cash via contracts’

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize’s long-time personal spokesperson and his former private secretary allegedly pocketed Covid-19 cash as paid consultants for a shadowy contractor appointed by the Department of Health, reported Pieter-Louis Myburgh in Daily Maverick (24 Feb 2021) The company, Digital Vibes, has secured DoH contracts worth more than
R82-m for work related to the pandemic.

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