Health sector cleared for surgery
Mail & Guardian | 15 March 2013
An industry-wide probe into private healthcare seems likely, but stakeholders fear a witch hunt.
Attorneys representing clients in the private healthcare industry have branded last week's proclamation of the Competition Amendment Act as a move to launch a "draconian witch hunt" into price setting in the private healthcare industry. The Act gives the Competition Commission the power to investigate the general state of competition in industries.
|
Gauteng health woes continue despite MEC assurances
Health-e News | 15 March 2013
Health activists have highlighted on-going medicine and consumable shortages, broken equipment and inadequate human resources at all Gauteng hospitals in response to Health MEC Hope Papo’s recent claims that his department is on top of matters.
In an open letter sent to Papo’s office yesterday SECTION27 and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) highlighted a number of examples of critical breakdowns in the past weeks:
- Thokoza...
|
|
Ban tells public health educators to get involved in post-2015 development agenda
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the global public health academic community to be active partners in the future development framework as the international community starts to set its post-2015 anti-poverty goals.
“Our hope is that governments will fashion and reach consensus on an ambitious and coherent global agenda with a single set of goals by 2015 that are every bit as inspiring as the MDGs have been,” Mr. Ban said yesterday at the Global Colloquium of University...
|
|
Minister unveils PhD programme
Shrinking numbers of medical researchers have impacted on the production of health care professionals in South Africa, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said on Thursday.
Speaking at Parliament in Cape Town at the launch of a National Health PhD Scholars Programme, he said there was an international “acute shortage” of medical personnel, but this was most pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa.
“In South Africa, one of the key impediments that has been constraining the...
|
Minister mulls Russia training for SA doctors
Business Day | 14 March 2013
INTENT on finding a way to dramatically increase the number of South African doctors, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is investigating the scope for training the next generation of medics in Russia, he said on Wednesday.
Dr Motsoaledi has already persuaded South Africa’s eight medical schools to increase their student numbers, but they have limited scope to do so because they are constrained by funding and by the number of staff available to supervise students in hospitals and...
|
Older men blamed for high HIV rates among schoolgirls
Mail & Guardian | 14 March 2013
At least 28% of schoolgirls across SA are HIV positive, a figure blamed on sexual relationships between young women and older men, say reports.
Only 4% of boys at schools were HIV positive in comparison.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi released the figures at a National Council of Provinces "taking Parliament to the people" event in Carolina, Mpumalanga.
"It is clear that it is not young boys who are sleeping with these girls. It is old men. We must take a stand...
|
MPs set deadline for health insurance funding plan
Business Day | 12 March 2013
PARLIAMENT’s two finance committees have flexed their muscles and set the Treasury some tight deadlines to submit a number of reports, including one on a funding model for the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.
MPs want the NHI funding proposal within six months of the adoption of their reports by the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.
According to the standing committee on finance and the select committee on finance, the proposed NHI funding...
|
|
Motsoaledi charts five-year strategy for nursing profession
The nursing sector is in line for an overdue shake-up. Almost two years ago, the national Department of Health convened a nursing summit to address nursing challenges in the country.
From that summit, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi then appointed an eight-member ministerial task team to develop a plan of action to address education and practice issues in the profession.
On Monday, the minister launched the National Strategic Plan for Nurse Education, Training and Practice for 2012/13 -...
|
Gauteng health reports paint conflicting pictures
Financial Mail | 11 March 2013
There may be little on the ground to show that the Gauteng department of health is getting better. But the province's health MEC, Hope Papo, says he has put in place various measures to sort out the mess that has characterised his department for years, and is confident of meeting the targets spelt out in the 2012-2014 turnaround plan.
Papo does not want to be distracted by "misleading reports" saying nothing has happened since implementation of the plan started in July. He is...
|
Department of Health seeks to standardise nursing training
Business Day | 11 March 2013
A STANDARDISED nursing sector could be in sight as the Department of Health has launched a strategy to improve monitoring of nursing institutions and new nurses, and do away with "illegal nursing training colleges".
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told a delegation at the launch of the strategy in Boksburg that a "chief nursing officer" would soon be appointed in his office to deal with nursing in hospitals and to monitor progress of the strategy.
Dr Motsoaledi said...
|
Motsoaledi targets tobacco, liquor industries
Health-e News | 11 March 2013
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, who has been reigning in the use tobacco products with strict legislation, has now also set his sights on the liquor industry.
Motsoaledi reiterated his intention to ban liquor advertising at the launch of a health campaign in uMlazi, KwaZulu Natal last week.
He explained that although the liquor industry contributed R19 billion to the economy each year, the country spends around R39 billion trying to reverse the adverse effects of alcohol....
|
No pills for chronic sufferers
The New Age | 11 March 2013
Thousands of patients with chronic diseases who receive antihypertensive drugs from clinics and hospitals in the province could face life threatening situations because of a shortage of the medication.
Several patients, mostly the elderly, who get monthly prescriptions from clinics were nor given their full supply of drugs such as Enalapril Maleate, commonly known as pharmapress, at clinics in Seshego on Thursday.
|
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. Confidentiality of data relating to individuals and visitors, including their identity, is respected by this website. Our website does not host any form of advertisement. HST undertakes to honour or exceed the legal requirements of information privacy that applies in South Africa. Access to Information - Section 51 of the Access to Information Act