April 2016 News Archive

SA wins fight for cheaper HIV treatment

Last year Abbvie could not meet demand for Aluvia, a second-line ARV for HIV patients who no longer responded to their originally prescribed treatment. South Africa supplies Aluvia to about 300 000 people a month, making it the biggest buyer of the drug in the world. Read more>

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Delamanid clinical access programme expected

According to director of the Department of Health's DR-TB, TB and HIV division Dr Norbert Ndjeka, the department is currently in talks with Japanese drug maker Otsuka Pharmaceutical to negotiate access to Otsuka's DR-TB drug delamanid for what will initially be a small number of patients as part of a clinical access programme. Read more>

Global health activists lobby UN panel in SA on medicine access

At issue is how best to align the interests of inventors, international trade rules, public health and human rights. Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) head of policy, Marcus Low, said this is not just a developing world issue. Read more>

Biosimilar drugs could save up to $110-billion by 2020

The report said that realising those savings, however, depends on effective doctor education and healthcare providers adopting smart market access strategies. Read more>

Medical aid bullying tactics put pharmacies at risk

Yesterday, the ICPA called on the Department of Health and the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) to investigate how medical schemes appoint designated service providers (DSPs). Read more>

The most abused over-the-counter drug in SA

Broncleer cough syrup which is manufactured by Adcock Ingram Pharmaceuticals is being abused by people seeking a cheap high, this is according to 2015 report by eNCA's investigative current affairs show CheckPoint. Read more>

Hospital watchdog lacks power to enforce standards

The OHSC was established three years ago, but until Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi promulgates regulations for the norms and standards hospitals and clinics must meet, it cannot take firm action against failing facilities. Read more>

SA testing anti-HIV vaccine

The vaccine - the only one shown to be reasonably effective against HIV after 30 years of research - is being tested on 100 people in this country. It is designed to activate the immune system to fight the virus. The results of the test will be known in May. Read more>

UN panel to shine

But all stakeholders to need be united around new solutions, Precious Matsoso said. She said being able to get affordable medicines and the development of new innovations "are critical to saving lives", especially in Africa where countries are often under-resourced and where many drugs "remain out of reach". Read more>

SANDF takes action to retain doctors

Briefing Parliament's portfolio committee on Defence and Military Veterans on the implementation of recommendations made by a ministerial task team established to look at complaints from unhappy medical personnel in the force‚ SANDF surgeon general Aubrey Sedibe said that they had lost 47 doctors in "a short space of time". Read more>