The latest guidelines on managing the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STI) focus on the importance of screening, a shift that has been welcomed by experts. Published by the South African HIV Clinicians Society (SAHIVSOC) last month, the guidelines reflect…
Tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke continue to contribute to over 9% of the mortality burden in South Africa. This galvanised the National Department of Health to gazette the Draft Tobacco Products and the Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill…
Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla has announced that 37 public hospitals will be exempt from load shedding. The minister said the department is in talks with Eskom and local municipalities to increase the number of health facilities that will be…
As more South Africans succumb to non-communicable diseases, the Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) has called on the health department to finalise the regulations relating to front of package food labels. Diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers are…
The aftershocks of Covid-19’s stranglehold on the global supply chain are affecting the availability of some essential medicines in South Africa. Medical associations and pharmaceutical organisations are concerned about the low supply of morphine powder and 150 other medicines across…
A distressed mother from the North West was left with more questions than answers after her nine-year-old son was diagnosed with bilharzia. It all started when Mokgadi Sebone* noticed blood stains on her son’s underpants. She immediately sat down with…
The challenges South Africa’s healthcare system faces cannot be blamed on migrants seeking treatment at the country’s facilities, said Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla. Speaking outside Kalafong Hospital in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, Phaahla admitted poor management, maladministration, staff shortages, and corruption…
Active pharmaceutical ingredient shortages, production delays, and quality control issues are some of the reasons for a shortage of contraceptives between April and June this year. The Health Department revealed this in its response to the release of the latest…
As xenophobic sentiment appears to mount in SA, Kalafong Hospital management has taken legal steps to stop Operation Dudula members from preventing undocumented migrants from accessing healthcare. Hospital management told Health-e News on Friday they have an interdict to stop…
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, took to the streets of Bloemfontein yesterday, in protest against illegal abortions in the province, removing advertisements promoting illegal abortion services. Concern has been mounting over the number of bogus doctors offering illegal and unsafe…
South African children will have to wait until next year for the rollout of the child friendly, ‘sweet-tasting’ antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, despite this new 4-in-1 combination receiving the green light. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) approved the…
Patients in KwaZulu-Natal who receive their chronic medication through a distribution system claim their pre-packed medicine is often incorrect and inadThe National Department of Health launched the Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) program of Health in 2014. It…
Young girls and women in SA between 15 and 24 continue to be most at risk of HIV, yet access to preventative measures and support remains low. According to UNAIDS, young women in sub-Saharan Africa are twice as likely to become infected with…
`IAs South Africans try to cope with the ongoing load shedding situation, health facilities across the country are under severe pressure to maintain their day-to-day activities. Sadly, this sometimes means losing a patient when oxygen or life-saving equipment isn’t readily…
Ntsu, once used exclusively by traditional healers to connect with their ancestors, is gaining popularity among youth who are struggling to resist this form of smokeless tobacco. Young women in KwaZulu-Natal have especially taken to ntsu, which is usually sniffed…