Over 760 000 tested for HIV at New Start centres

Reputed to be South Africa's largest NGO HIV Counselling and Testing network, New Start has continued to make significant strides in the country's HCT efforts, with more than 760 000 having received HCT services at its centres around South Africa since the programme was launched in 2004. Read more >>

Standardise traditional meds, says Zuma

The standardisation of African traditional medicine should be speeded up, says President Jacob Zuma. Read more >>

It's raining nappies in October and November with Nappy Run!

South Africans are all too familiar with the concept of charitable fundraising events in aid of countless worthy causes. However a national campaign to receive donations of nappies is a first for the country. This new initiative was launched on 5 October as the first of an annual national campaign under the banner of "Nappy Run" and will run until 5 November. Read more >>

From policy to implementation: what next for NHI?

When the Government released its Green Paper on National Health Insurance (NHI), it provided the industry with a broad roadmap to reach the destination of quality healthcare for all South Africans. Read more >>

Comparing apples with pears - the SA pharmaceutical market is not the same as the US one!

[Alexis Apostolidis] A recent report by the American Federal Trade Commission ("FTC", the equivalent to South Africa's competition authorities) on the short and long-term effects of authorised generics sparked an article in the Business Report on Friday, 14 October- "Delay in generics robbing SA's sick". An authorised generic is an approved brand name drug marketed as a generic. Read more >>

Where are the bodies? - HIV/AIDS statistics in South Africa

New report recalculates AIDS-related death estimates with powerful policy implications. Read more >>

Change in healthcare leads to change in HASA's strategy

With healthcare at a critical juncture in South Africa, the Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA) - which represents over 90% of private hospitals in South Africa - has restructured and realigned its strategy and brand. Read more >>

Flexible, affordable, benefit-rich options

Medshield Medical Scheme, the fourth largest open scheme in South Africa, has announced an average family rate increase for 2012 of R294.34. In operation for over 40 years, the scheme's management says Medshield's resilience in an increasingly challenging environment is evident through its active expansion into the private sector. Last year the company successfully took on Oxygen and Gen-Health members, resulting in a principal membership of over 100 000, covering 254 000 lives. Read more >>

Profmed interacts with young professionals using social media

A website upgrade and an active and interactive presence on Facebook and LinkedIn has Profmed, the medical scheme for graduate professionals, talking to young, internet-savvy professionals. Read more >>

Killing brain cancer stem cells

[Kim Irwin] New method helps researchers zero in on drugs that can kill brain cancer stem cells. Read more >>

The cancer-saliva link

[Rachel Champeau] UCLA study pinpoints types of bacteria in saliva associated with pancreatic cancer. Read more >>

College of Applied Psychology opens Gauteng campus

The South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP) has opened a new Gauteng campus for the first time operating from October this year in Rosebank, Johannesburg. Through the launch of this new campus, SACAP aims to boost counselling, coaching and facilitation skills within Gauteng and as such begin to play an instrumental role in positively impacting society in the region. Read more >>

Gene silencing paves way to new treatments for breast cancer

Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered that switching off a gene called CERT makes breast cancer cells more sensitive to a range of drugs. The research is published in the Journal of Pathology. Read more >>

New therapies offer real hope in fight against cancer

September was Leukaemia Awareness Month and, with clinical haematology units around the country struggling to handle the growing number of people affected by the disease, raising public awareness seems more important than ever. Hence, even though Leukaemia Awareness Month has now passed, here are some facts and information on this form of cancer. Read more >>

Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital introduces Saturday Surgery Initiative

The Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and the Children's Hospital Trust have partnered with Mediclinic Southern Africa to fund the first ever 'Saturday Surgeries' initiative at the Hospital to alleviate extensive waiting lists for life changing surgical procedures. The Saturday Surgeries project will take place from 22 October to 10 December 2011 and Mediclinic Southern Africa will fund this R265 000 project. Read more >>

Orbis, KZN health department to open Paediatric Eye Care Centre

All eyes are on Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH) in Durban for the official opening of the new Paediatric Eye Care Centre thanks to a three-year partnership between the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Health and international sight-saving organisation Orbis. Read more >>

One size does not fit all for knee replacements and other medical devices

[Karen N. Peart] Undergoing a knee replacement involves sophisticated medical equipment, but innovative prosthetic design may not offer the same benefits for all knee replacement recipients, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in a perspective article in the 20 October issue of New England Journal of Medicine. Read more >>

GPs can help identify female domestic violence victims

A Lancet study shows how general practice can substantially improve care for women experiencing domestic violence. Read more >>

Positively pink this Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This October we celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to recent health statistics for South Africa*, 1 in every 29 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer; the good news is that if it's detected early, there is an excellent chance of recovery. Read more >>