As more than 500 people have been infected by a viral pneumonia caused by a new coronavirus (named by WHO as 2019-nCoV), and at least 17 people have died, WHO has issued travel advice and prevention advice for the public. The good news is that the World Health Organisation (WHO) convened an Emergency Committee which […]

South Africa’s prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme has achieved remarkable successes in recent years. It has improved the health and life expectancy for pregnant women living with HIV, and it has reduced the risk of transmission of the virus to their offspring. HIV can be transmitted during pregnancy, at the time of delivery, and through […]

Carte Blanche covers a Rolex murder, Sperm Donor Siblings, DNA database disasters plus more, on Sunday 5 January – on DStv Now if you’re in South Africa, and available to stream from Tues 7 January on Showmax International in most other countries.  Mammoth Families – the Stories of Sperm Donor Siblings How would you feel if […]

Deputy President David Mabuza has conceded that while the South African government has made significant inroads in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, more needs to be done to curb the scourge. “We must intensify our programme on prevention by employing every method possible to end this epidemic,” he said. The Deputy President made the […]

South Africa’s proposed switch to universal health coverage – known as the National Health Insurance (NHI) program – will be managed in a fiscally responsible way, a senior presidential aide told Reuters, forecasting the landmark reform would cost the state $2.2 billion per year by 2025/26. Meanwhile President Cyril Ramaphosa stressed in the National Assembly […]

The African National Congress (ANC) Study Group on Health says it is pleased with the introduction of the National Health Insurance (NIH) Bill, to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee (PC) on Health. It claims the NHI will guarantee that all South Africans have access to free, comprehensive and quality healthcare in the country’s health facilities… and disputes […]

South Africa published its draft National Health Insurance (NHI) bill on Thursday, with one senior official estimating universal healthcare for millions of poorer citizens would cost about 256 billion rand ($16.89 billion) to implement by 2022. The bill creating an NHI Fund paves the way for a comprehensive overhaul of South Africa‘s health system that would be one of […]

Economic disparities, inequality and unemployment, particularly among young people, remain pervasive in South Africa. Lack of access to services and inadequate living conditions also affect people’s quality of life, health and well-being. Urban living holds the promise of improved conditions. But many people relocating to South Africa’s metropolitan areas have to contend with a host […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Presidential Health Compact on Thursday, which will make the way for a new health care system in South Africa that doesn’t discriminate against whether a person is rich or poor. “It has as its stated goal: one country, one health system. This means quality of care must be the same […]

In a dream come true, top South African epidemiologist Professor Salim S. Abdool Karim has officially become a Fellow of the prestigious Royal Society, the world’s oldest science academy… over three decades after he first made it his goal as a student while studying at the London School of Economics. Professor Karim joins the ranks […]

A woman giving birth at an infamous KwaZulu-Natal hospital was asked for her cell phone to use its torch during the procedure because the facility’s lighting did not work, the Democratic Alliance has alleged in a complaint to the KZN government. “The patient, who wishes to remain anonymous, had to have a surgical procedure known […]

Here’s the line-up of hot topics that the Carte Blanche team tackle this Sunday 7 July in an extended 90-minute episode – watch here if you’re in SA, and don’t miss out if you’re abroad: the current affairs programme is available to stream from Tues 9 July on Showmax International in many countries: Alex’s Missing […]

The delivery of life saving blood has been taken to new heights by the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) with the launch a new drone blood delivery service. Launched in May, the Tron Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) drone, features a wing design suited for maximum efficiency and allows for long travel time with minimal […]

In the battle against coughs and sniffles this winter season, a third of South Africans cited Rooibos tea among their top three colds and flu-fighting strategies. This was revealed in a national survey conducted by a leading health firm specialising in colds and flu remedies. According to the survey which polled almost 2 000 respondents, South […]

Award winning South African researcher Sanesha Naicker has been named Leading Female Pioneer in Breast Cancer Research 2019 by GHP (Global Health and Pharma) Magazine. Naicker is one of the awardees in the international magazine’s Alternative Medicine and Holistic Health Awards. GHP said this week that the renowned researcher, who hails from Chatsworth, is a […]

Algeria – the nation where malaria was discovered – is officially free of malaria, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday, making it the third African country to eliminate one of the world’s leading killer diseases. With no recorded cases of malaria in three consecutive years, Argentina was also declared malaria-free – the second […]

Situated right next to the Atlantic Ocean and embraced by majestic mountain ranges, Cape Town boasts an outdoor-oriented lifestyle and plenty of delicious, locally-sourced cuisine, due to its desirable location. To help foreign expats moving to this enchanting city take advantage of all these things, this article offers insight from a seasoned expat familiar with […]

A foetus’ head is decapitated during childbirth at a hospital in Boksburg in South Africa. A woman’s uterus is removed without her consent during a routine procedure. Negligence in obstetrics and gynaecology wards at Gauteng state hospitals has the Department of Health crippled by claims for damages. With new cases still emerging, this week Carte Blanche […]

The 13th of March 2019 may have been an ordinary day for most but not for a 35-year-old male patient, who had previously lost his hearing in a car accident. In a pioneering surgical procedure using 3D-printed middle ear bones, developed by Professor Mashudu Tshifularo and his team at the University of Pretoria (UP), the […]

Research has shown that excess salt intake is harmful to people’s health. It can lead to high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Globally salt reduction programmes are gaining traction, whether through awareness campaigns or through governmental interventions. This has been true in South Africa too. Three years ago it […]

The Film and Publication Board (FPB) has urged parents to be vigilant and closely monitor their children’s online activities, especially games downloaded on various App stores or from other online sources. The board in a statement said it has been alerted of a mobile game called “Momo Challenge”, which it describes as a form of […]

AfriForum launched its Anchor Town Roadshow in Pretoria on Monday. During this launch week, AfriForum personnel will pick up garbage in streets, paint road signs and clean up and deforest areas, as well as visit an animal shelter to present donations from the public. The Anchor Town Roadshow is a campaign aimed at creating a […]

Even medicines that are years past their expiration date and haven’t always been kept in strict climate-controlled conditions may still retain their original potency, a small study suggests. That is good news for people working in remote areas of the world where sometimes an expired medication is the only one available and the alternative is […]

As custodians of culture, traditional leaders are ideally placed within communities to expose myths around patriarchy and notions of ownership over the bodies of women that continue to persist. This is according to the Minister of Women Bathabile Dlamini, who on Thursday addressed a dialogue with traditional leaders. The Minister said her department supports and […]

Shanaya Govender (5) from Roodepoort, Johannesburg has battled Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, since the age of 3. Shanaya initially became ill on the 14th April 2017 when she woke up in the middle of the night screaming with pain in her left arm and a fever of 41. She was rushed […]