News
GEMS tariff hike sparks union backlash
17 Feb 2026
Trade unions in the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) have rejected the Government Employees Medical Scheme’s (GEMS) 9.8% tariff increase effective 1 January. – Times Live (17 Feb 2026)
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Resurgence in malaria have severe financial implications for Africa
17 Feb 2026
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 610,000 malaria deaths occurred globally in 2024. Africa accounted for 95% of deaths (579,000) and 95% of cases (265m). Most deaths were among children under five.
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SA’s most pressing health issues this year.
16 Feb 2026
In a Bhekesisa article “Here’s what’s on South Africa’s 2026 public health agenda” (14 Jan 2026) Tanya Pampalone shares what experts have to say about some of the most pressing health issues this year.
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‘NHI litigation takes a sharp procedural turn’
11 Feb 2026
“National Health Insurance (NHI) litigation has taken a sharp procedural turn. The Constitutional Court has indicated it wants to hear, first, from parties attacking Parliament’s public participation process on the NHI Bill,” reported Business Day (11 Feb (2026).
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Bogus Doctors putting lives at risk
10 Feb 2026
The Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) warned that unregistered practitioners are putting lives at risk as new cases of ‘bogus doctors’ continue to surface, reported Spotlight (10 February 2026)
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No overcrowding in Gauteng hospitals, says MEC
10 Feb 2026
Following several claims of overcrowding and poor patient conditions in Gauteng hospitals, Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko reacted that there is no overcrowding crisis because she has not personally seen patients sleeping on floors. – TimesLive (10 Feb 2-26)
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Removal of medical tax credits on the cards
17 Oct 2025
“With significant legal and logistical uncertainty still surrounding the NHI's implementation, making precipitous changes to the tax system could have unforeseen and damaging consequences for millions of South Africans.” - Business Day(17 October 2025)
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Pharma faces billions in costs due to new tariffs
29 Jul 2025
“The pharmaceutical industry is bracing for a significant financial blow, with analysts forecasting costs of between $13bn and $19bn following the revelation that a new transatlantic trade deal will subject branded medicines to a hefty 15% tariff.” – Reuters (28 July 2025)
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Life Healthcare backs collaboration to tackle healthcare crisis
27 Nov 2024
Life Healthcare CEO Peter Wharton-Hood has backed a call for greater collaboration between the government and private healthcare providers to address South Africa’s pressing healthcare challenges. This follows a proposal by Netcare CEO Richard Friedland, who suggested adding healthcare as the fourth pillar in an existing government-business partnership focused on revitalising the economy.
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Discovery Life claims back to pre-Covid levels
19 Apr 2024
“Discovery Life distributed R10.3bn to its clients, a decrease from the R11bn paid the previous year,” reported Business Day (19April 2024)
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Hundreds of websites found selling fake weight-loss drugs
16 Apr 2024
Reuters reported on 15 April that the cybersecurity company BrandShield has shut down over 250 websites selling counterfeit versions of popular drugs used for weight loss and diabetes treatment within the GLP-1 class.
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RAF bid to appeal judgment on claim requirements
06 Dec 2023
On 5 December 2023 the Pretoria High Court rejected the Road Accident Fund’s (RAF) request to reconsider a previous verdict from November, reported Business Day.
“The ruling mandated eliminating the stringent new requirements for filing claims outlined in a 2021 board notice.”
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Covid-19 vaccines: ‘Health Department squandered the opportunity’
07 Sep 2023
“Health activists are right to draw attention to this grossly unfair situation. (Covid-19 vaccine deals) But the far bigger scandal is that the Health Department squandered the opportunity after spending an estimated R14-bn on Covid-19 jabs and belatedly filling its warehouses with enough doses to vaccinate the nation” – Business Day (7 September 2023).
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EDITORIAL: Health Minister must halt care crisis
20 Jan 2023
NHI, the government’s plan for universal health coverage, rests heavily on nurse-led care. Yet where these nurses will come from is a mystery. – Editorial (
Business Day 20 January 2023).
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Study raises concerns about quality of hospital meals
12 Jan 2023
According to a study of meals served at Cape Town hospitals the food served to hospital patients are way below the health department “ration scale” and patients’ energy requirements, reported
Financial Mail (12 January 2023).
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