Leukaemia tumours destroyed in gene therapy breakthrough

Scientists, reports Mail & Guardian, for the first time have used gene therapy to successfully destroy cancer tumours in patients with advanced disease - a goal that has taken 20 years to achieve. Read more >>

HASA welcomes release of NHI green paper

The Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA) welcomes the release of the green paper on a National Health Insurance (NHI) system released by Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsaoledi. Read more >>

Discovery Health supports NHI

Discovery Health has come out in support of the government's National Health Insurance initiative saying that it will have significant benefits for healthcare throughout the country according to a report published by IOL.Discovery's chief executive Jonathan Broomberg as saying the company strongly supports the NHI framework Read more >>

Prescribed minimum benefits - know your rights

Confusion still reigns over the interpretation of the Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB) regulations introduced by the Medical Schemes Act in January 2004. Ian Taylor, executive practice head - healthcare at PSG Konsult Corporate believes that it should not be viewed with the same trepidation as a 'dreaded disease'. "The best defence," he says, "is for members to be as informed as possible." Read more >>

No specifics on CPA for medical schemes yet, but customer service guidelines still valuable

While the jury is still out regarding how the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) will affect medical schemes, the Commissioner for the National Consumer Commission (NCC) has been clear on some basic requirements from schemes in terms of their goods and services. Medical schemes should be doing all they can to ensure a fair, accountable approach to their members. Read more >>

Building pharmaceutical excellence

Innovation and sustainability in South Africa's pharmacy sector go hand in hand with meeting key challenges facing the healthcare profession. Read more >>

Medical schemes need to help shift focus back to primary level healthcare

Changing the way healthcare providers are remunerated is key to addressing healthcare costs. Rewarding doctors, for example, for achieving the best healthcare outcomes for patients could bring down costs and prevent members from accessing more expensive treatments, such as hospitals and specialists, unnecessarily. Read more >>

Scheme's angry response to Consumer Commission

The National Consumer Commissioner Mamodupi Mohlala has been accused of not appreciating the complexities of the medical sector by Monwabisi Gantsho head of the Council for Medical Schemes. In an article published in Business Day Gantsho says she should "focus her attention elsewhere". Read more >>

US study urges caution with lenalidomide dosage

An early phase multiple myeloma trial has unexpectedly revealed that the drug lenalidomide interacts with another protein in cells that affect its dose level in the body, say researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Centre - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James) who conducted the study. Read more >>

Stress: The silent communication killer

Stress is the single most lethal enemy of communicating successfully. Stress and tension is poison for your mind, body and voice, and your ability to manage and control stress will determine whether you will succeed under pressure. Read more >>

World Lymphoma Awareness Day

Giving voice to a cancer that can be cured... "I am the Voice of Lymphoma" launches on World Lymphoma Awareness Day. One million people worldwide live with lymphoma[i] and nearly 1000 people are diagnosed with the disease every day[2], yet many South African's generally don't know about this type of cancer. Read more >>

Product placements market unhealthy food to children

Children in the US are being exposed to almost one advertisement every day for unhealthy food, beverage, and restaurant brands via product placements on prime-time TV, finds a study from Yale's Rudd Centre for Food Policy & Obesity. Read more >>

NHI costs will rise to R225 billion in 15 years

South Africa's National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme will cost taxpayers R225 billion by 2025 when it is fully implemented according to a report published on Times Live today. It quotes Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, expenditure on the plan will rise to R103 million this year. Read more >>

Here comes the NHI

The National Health Insurance scheme is to be presented to President Jacob Zuma's Cabinet today and details of the policy document will probably be revealed tomorrow if the Cabinet approves it. Read more >>

Prevention education for women and girls has to be a priority

The dire need to improve the capacity of women and adolescent girls to protect themselves from the risks of HIV infection, was recently highlighted by the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) in a report which is to be submitted to the upcoming United Nations High Level Meeting '2011 Declaration on HIV/AIDS.' Read more >>