Some years ago I wrote an editorial in the journal CME calling for Mathius Rath to be expelled from the country. That was at the start of his campaign of spreading misinformation and peddling snake oil as cures for HIV among the population of several South African townships. He carried on, unabated, for years - aided and abetted by SANCO (who one hopes were doing this in ignorance and not for any kind of material gain). Now, at last, he, and our health ministry, have been brought to task by the Cape High Court. Finally, there is some action against his so-called clinical trials of supplements that at best are useless and at worst may actually be harmful to people living with HIV. Yet again it has taken court action by organisations such as the TAC and, in this case, SAMA to bring our Minister of Health into line. In this case, the court has actually charged her and her ministry with "doing their jobs". We all know that she is manifestly failing to do this - perhaps it will take a court order to bring this home to her at last. Our public health services are literally falling apart, peddlers of snake oil have been tacitly supported by the Minister and people are dying as a result. Would it be too much to ask that we get a Minister of Health who does all her work - not just that around HIV and AIDS care?
Bridget Farham Editor https://www.bizcommunity.com