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December 2015 News Archive


Register and participate to enhance medicine deliveries

GEMS has undertaken a project to verify delivery of your medicine. The intention of the project is to improve services as well as enhance monitoring of the deliveries. Read more >

Collusion to defraud medical aids increasing

The Gauteng health department its breaking its ties with the largest and oldest hospital public/private partnership because it can no longer afford the cost of treatmentAccording to estimates by the Healthcare Forensic Management Unit (HFMU) of the Board of Healthcare Funders of Southern Africa (BHF), at least seven percent of all medical aid claims in South Africa are fraudulent and the figure could be as high as 15 percent. Read more >

Wishing you a happy, healthy festive season from Dr Joe!

As the end of the year approaches with all its merriment and temptations, GEMS members are encouraged to take the necessary precautions to ensure a happy and safe festive season. We also wish you a happy, healthy and joyous 2016. Read more >

Climate change will mean more water-borne diseases

As if the drought has not caused enough damage to the economy and food production‚ the South African Medical Association has warned that climate change will produce a surge in water-borne diseases. Read more >

Tax breaks eyed in huge pharma merger

US based Pfizer has announced yesterday a $160bn merger with Ireland-based Allergan to create the world's biggest pharmaceutical group and shift to a lower-tax jurisdiction, despite US government policies discouraging such deals. Read more >

Minimum benefits must be paid in full

The extent to which schemes are liable for PMBs costs is a fiercely contested issue in the medical schemes industry. It is the focus of a separate legal matter in which Genesis is asking the High Court in Cape Town to scrap regulation 8 of the Medical Schemes Act, which requires schemes to pay for the prescribed benefits in full. Read more >

Two-thirds of people think antibiotics can cure the flu

Close to one-third (32 percent) of people surveyed think they should stop taking antibiotics when they feel better, rather than completing the prescribed course of treatment. Read more >

Truck to screen for TB in prisons

The Departments of Justice and Correctional Services estimated the prevalence of TB in prisons to be between three and seven times that of the general population Read more >

Guidelines: Maternity Care in South Africa

This year's guidelines mark the fourth revision in the maternity guidelines for clinics and district hospitals. The 174-page guidelines are aimed at health workers providing obstetric, surgical and anaesthetic services for pregnant women in district clinics, health centres and district hospitals. Read more >

Disabled lose out in South Africa's quest for sanitation, water

Since childhood, Shonisani Makhado has depended on crutches to assist him to walk and - like almostseven percent of disabled South Africans - Shonisani has no toilet. When nature calls, he must crawl out into the bush surrounding his home to relive himself. Read more >

No confidence in NHI

As the promised White Paper remains elusive, it appears most medical practitioners are still doubtful over the implementation of the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. Read more >

Watchdog in chains as advertiser fights back

Already, the Advertising Standards Authority - which protects consumers against misleading and unsubstantiated advertising - has lost a significant skirmish. In September, the High Court in Johannesburg ruled against it in favour of a complementary medicines manufacturer, the Medical Nutritional Institute. Read more >

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