Health

Who decides on Vaccine Mandates?

This brief reviews the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States of America in National Federation of Independent Business et al v Department of Labour, OSHA and argues that it is able to usefully inform debates about vaccine / testing mandates in South Africa.

Gangster State

When public life is structured by Family Meetings and threats of systematic economic and social exclusion, Matthew Kruger argues, we live in a gangster state.

Coronavirus vaccination in Africa. II – African Conditions

This is the second of two briefs in which global vaccine distribution and the need for social solidarity is discussed.This brief focuses on conditions in Africa.

Coronavirus vaccination in Africa. I – The Global Backdrop

This is the first of two briefs in which global vaccine distribution and the need for social solidarity is discussed. This brief discusses the distribution of vaccines globally.

Concluding Remarks

This brief provides for concluding remarks and responses on Research Fellow Matthew Kruger’s previously published brief entitled “A Life of Freedom: Mandatory Vaccines and Mocking the Dead” in which he argued that it is a shared narcissistic disgust of others that motivates the present move towards a policy of mandating vaccines.

A Life Of Freedom: Mandatory vaccines and mocking the dead

Whatever the cold wisdom of a policy mandating vaccines, Matthew Kruger argues in this brief, it is a shared narcissistic disgust of others that motivates the present move towards it.

The Effects Of Looting On The South African Health Care System At A Time When It Is Most Needed

In the past week and a half, South African news has been overtaken by reports of violent riots and looting which started in protest to the incarceration of former president Jacob Zuma. The effect of the looting is evident on small and big businesses as well as the economy, increasing unemployment and making it difficult for businesses to recover from their losses. However, there are ripple effects which are not as clear. These include those on the health sector, and by extension the vaccine roll out.

Addressing Provincial Health Departments’ Medicolegal Claims Liability II: Transforming Litigation Strategies And Tackling Corruption

Provinces' medicolegal claims liability is largely caused by negligence and intentional wrongdoing by the State Attorney when defending these claims. This brief examines the measures that have been adopted to counteract the problems in the Offices of the State Attorney.

Addressing Provincial Health Departments’ Medicolegal Claims Liability: Developing The Law Of Delict

Provincial health departments face numerous claims for damages for medical negligence. The common law provides that payments must be made in one lump sum, but this impacts on health departments' capacity to provide healthcare for others. This brief considers how the courts have begun developing the common law to provide for payments in kind and periodic payments.

The Life Esidimeni Inquest, Due To Start On 19 July 2021

Five years after the Life Esidimeni tragedy was first uncovered, a formal inquest is being launched by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). It is the hope that the inquest will contribute to uncovering the truth behind the decisions which contributed to the termination of the contract which led to the death of 144 mentally ill patients and facilitate closure, by making it clear whether criminal prosecutions are to be instituted.

Combatting Vaccine Hesitancy

In this brief, we consider the problem and potential effect of vaccine hesitancy, and argue that given the deep-rooted mistrust of the state, the private sector can play a crucial role in combatting vaccine hesitancy. It is futile to procure the vaccine if distribution cannot be effected, or if, for whatever reason, people simply do not wish to be vaccinated.

How Will The Health System Cope Over The Next Four Years?

This is the fourth of a four brief series on health expenditure in the public and private sectors. The first brief deals with commonly ignored components of health expenditure: provision in workplaces, and medical expenditure on health financed from the Compensation Fund and the Road Accident Fund. The second considers the impact of local government on health. The third brief sets out information on the pattern of health expenditure from 1 April 2019 to the 31 March 2020. This forms the baseline for examining the implications of the 2021 Budget for health expenditure over the medium term, the topic of this brief.

Health Expenditure In The 2019/20 Financial Year

This is the third of a four brief series on health expenditure in the public and private sectors. The first brief deals with commonly ignored components of health expenditure: provision in workplaces, and medical expenditure on health financed from the Compensation Fund and the Road Accident Fund. The second considers the impact of local government on health. This brief sets out the information on the pattern of health expenditure from 1 April 2019 to the 31 March 2020. This forms the baseline for examining the implications of the 2021 Budget for health expenditure over the medium term, the topic of the fourth brief.

Local Government Impact On Health - What Do We Know?

This is the second of a four brief series on health expenditure in the public and private sectors. The first brief discusses commonly ignored components of health expenditure: provision in workplaces, and medical expenditure financed from the Compensation Fund and the Road Accident Fund. This brief considers the impact of local government on health. The third brief sets out information on the pattern of health expenditure from 1 April 2019 to the 31 March 2020. This forms the baseline for examining the implications of the 2021 Budget for health expenditure over the medium term, the topic of the fourth brief.

Occupational Health And Safety And Fund Payments For Treatment Of Injury And Disease - What Do We Know?

This is the first of a four brief series on health expenditure in the public and private sectors. It discusses commonly ignored components of health expenditure: provision in workplaces, and medical expenditure financed from the Compensation Fund and the Road Accident Fund. The second considers the impact of local government on health. The third brief sets out information on the pattern of health expenditure from 1 April 2019 to the 31 March 2020. This forms the baseline for examining the implications of the 2021 Budget for health expenditure over the medium term, the topic of the fourth brief.

Output, Employment, The Minimum Wage And Covid-19

This brief advances an explanation of the divergence between the growth of output and the growth of employment, between the first quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2021. In a brief published on 6 April 2021, I argued that the explanation lay in new methods of data collection – here I advance another explanation.

COVID-19 Vaccines - South African Developments And Issues

This is the second of two briefs about COVID-19 vaccines. This brief sets out vaccine developments in South Africa as well as the various issues that are being faced by the government, the health sector and the people in accessing the vaccine.

Vaccine Nationalism And Global Equity

This is the first of two briefs discussing issues relating to COVID-19 vaccines. This brief argues that, in order to combat COVID-19, global equity to vaccine access is necessary. However, in order to achieve this equitable distribution, vaccine nationalism as well as poor government policy and governance surrounding vaccine access will have to be overcome.

Pharmaceuticals and South Africa III - The Courts

In the first brief we considered the findings in the HSF’s enquiry into the structures regarding the pricing and distribution of pharmaceuticals in South Africa. The Second brief summarised the manufacturing environment of pharmaceuticals in South Africa. We conclude the series by looking at various findings against the backdrop of a Western Cape High Court judgement.

Pharmaceuticals and South Africa II – Supply

In the first Brief we considered the findings in the HSF’s enquiry into the structures regarding the pricing and distribution of pharmaceuticals in South Africa. This Brief will summarise the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals in South Africa. The series will conclude by considering the various findings against the backdrop of a Western Cape High Court judgement dealing with some of the issues.

Pharmaceuticals and South Africa I - Distribution

In the first Brief we consider the findings in the HSF’s enquiry into the structures regarding the pricing and distribution of pharmaceuticals in South Africa. The Second Brief will summarise the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals in South Africa. The series concludes by considering the various findings against the backdrop of a Western Cape High Court judgement dealing with some of the issues.

Hand Hygiene During The Covid-19 Epidemic

In an epidemic where so much remains unknown and where fear is widespread, it is important to enable all persons at risk to feel a sense of agency in relation to their own safety. Two elements are considered here: education about the importance of hand hygiene, and the provision of adequate quantities of usable water and sanitation to make thorough hand washing possible.

Mental Health II - National Health Insurance

Part 2 will consider the content of the National Health Insurance Bill as well as possible implications that it may have on the state of mental health care.

Mental Health I - Legal and policy framework

Part 1 explores the present legal instruments designed to ensure that all those who require it will have access to mental health care. The brief further considers the political will of creating suitable access for those most in need.

Medical aid schemes, medical insurance and the low-cost benefit option II – Where we need to go

Part 2 in this series will look at the work done on the reform of prescribed minimum benefits and its implications for National Health Insurance.

Medical aid schemes, medical insurance and the low-cost benefit option I – Current status

Part 1 in this series explores the manner in which the Council for Medical Schemes has dealt with Low-Cost Benefit Options especially in light of the pending National Health Insurance.

A Guide To The Duties Imposed On South Africans During The Lockdown

In this brief, Charles Simkins, offers an explainer to the Amended COVID-19 Lockdown Regulations which come into effect on 26 March 2020.

The National Health Insurance Bill IV: Summary of the HSF’s conclusions on the Bill

This brief is one of a series of four briefs on the National Health Insurance Bill (“NHI”). Their content is based on the submission which the HSF made to Parliament on 29 November 2019 on the National Health Insurance Bill (“the Bill”).

The National Health Insurance Bill III: Governance and the State’s ability to manage the envisaged NHI

This brief is one of a series of four briefs on the National Health Insurance Bill (“NHI”). Their content is based on the submission which the HSF made to Parliament on 29 November 2019 on the National Health Insurance Bill (“the Bill”).

The National Health Insurance Bill II: Insufficient detail on crucial aspects of the proposed NHI and its funding

This brief is one of a series of four briefs on the National Health Insurance Bill (“NHI”). Their content is based on the submission which the HSF made to Parliament on 29 November 2019 on the National Health Insurance Bill (“the Bill”).

The National Health Insurance Bill I: The current situation in the health sector and how the NHI Bill proposes to change it

This brief is the first of a series of four on the National Health Insurance Bill (“NHI”). They are based on the submission which the HSF made to Parliament on 29 November 2019 on the National Health Insurance Bill (“the Bill”).

Asbestos Cement Waterpipes: A Health Hazard?

Studies have shown that asbestos poses health risks to humans beyond the inhalation of fibres. Evidence suggests that ingestion of asbestos fibres from contaminated drinking water supplied though aged asbestos cement pipes also poses health hazards. This review explores how continued use of deteriorating asbestos cement pipes in water reticulation networks poses risks to human health.

Emerging Contaminants - Crisis Or Manageable Risk?

At present the global scientific community is grappling with the question of whether emerging contaminants in water pose any substantial health risks to humans. While the serious empirical exploration is under way, misplaced media hype about them risks creating undue public panic. This brief explores current debates, risks and solutions for emerging contaminants in water bodies.

Sexual Assault - Part 3: Sexual violence as a Weapon of War

A very popular, yet grossly under recognised, feature and weapon of war is sexual violence. Sexual violence, like artillery, is used to cause destruction through the terrorisation of a population or as an assertion of power by belligerent forces. Rape, when committed as part of a widespread attack, is also an effective tool for bringing about the destruction, in whole or in part, of a national, ethnical, racial or religious group – otherwise known as genocide.

Sexual Assault - Part 2: Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

According to legislation, employers have a positive legal duty to ensure that the workplace is free from unfair discrimination. What the legislature and disciplinary bodies alike do not take into consideration are the delicacies of the power differentials between men and women (not only as between superiors and subordinates) in the workplace and the trauma suffered by the victims of sexual harassment. Until there is an understanding of these inherent power dynamics that exist in the workplace, sexual misconduct will continue to persist in that space.

Sexual Assault - Part 1: Sexual Offences in the Criminal Justice System

Crimes of a sexual nature, the world over, are prosecuted distinct from any other form of crime. The burden of proof in sexual offence cases is more stringent (although it is not permitted to be). The tests and defences used are subjective as opposed to objective – as with all other crimes. Unlike other crimes, commissions of sexual offences, it can be argued, are skewed predominantly against women and children. They are also the only crimes in which the victim’s behaviour is the focal point, as opposed to that of the accused.

A commentary on the National Health Summit 2018 report

In October 2018, the inaugural Presidential Health Summit took place. The Summit sought to invite key stakeholders to deliberate on the issues causing our health system to fail. With the release of the Presidential Health Summit Report 2019, the drafters of the report came to a number of conclusions and recommendations which require comment.

The Medical Schemes Amendment Bill And The National Health Insurance Bill

This brief accompanies the release of our submission to the national Department of Health on its draft Medical Schemes Amendment Bill and the National Health Insurance Bill.

This brief is the second of two. The first brief assesses the extent to which government thinking has progressed on the funding of the health system. This brief will consider the extent to which quantitative modelling can help us think about the system’s future.

This brief is the first of two. It assesses the extent to which government thinking has progressed on the health system. The second will consider whether quantitative modelling can help us think about the system’s future.

This Brief focuses on the Zika virus and the threat to the Brazilian Olympic Games.

This Brief done by HSF's Sarika Doodnath deals with the Silicosis and Tuberculosis cased which are currently being debated over in Court.

This Brief looks at the purchaser-provider split and issues around it as well as whether it is necessary in South Africa's public health system.

This Brief looks at the developments in the NHI White Paper and the effect on the Private Sector with such proposals

This Brief looks at how the resources are allocated in terms of Primary Health Care (PHC) under the NHI White Paper.

This Brief does a comparison between the National Health Insurance (NHI) White Paper and the NHI Green Paper to ascertain differences, advancements and omissions.

Andrew Barlow looks at Brazil's wildly successful Family Health Strategy programme, and how a similar initiative could be rolled out here in South Africa.

Charles Simkins reviews the previous four briefs, pulling together themes and proposing how the government could affect genuinely meaningful change to South Africa's public health system.

The third brief in this series dealt with the two-tier systems used to finance UHC by Israel and the Netherlands. This brief now turns to the single payer system used by Canada.

The second brief in this series dealt with the insurance mandate systems used by Austria and Germany to finance UHC. This brief reviews the two tier systems of Israel and the Netherlands. Two-tier health care is so named because it involves a publically funded basic health package being provided, with a secondary private tier of additional – and often better quality – services available for those who can afford it.

The first brief in this series introduced the concept of Universal Health Coverage, as defined by the World Health Organisation. It looked at how the NHI White Paper released late last year conceives of UHC, and posited that this ambitious single payer system should not be rushed into before other financing systems are considered. This brief describes the UHC systems in Austria and Germany.

The first brief in a five part series contributed to by both Andrew Barlow and Charles Simkins. This brief plays a general and introductory role; as well as considering the conditions needed for UHC success.

This Brief looks at the science behind marijuana and discusses that marijuana is not as bad as Governments want us to think.

Andrew Barlow looks at the UK's NHS - an internationally lauded and nationally loved single-payer universal health care system - and how the many issues its faces are relevant to the recent NHI White Paper and its proposals to implement a similar system here in South Africa.

This Brief looks at the issues at the Health Professions Council of South Africa as well as discusses the Minister of Health's Ministerial Task Team's Report.

This Brief deals with the genetic link requirement in section 294 of the Children's Act which deals with surrogacy agreements and genetic origin of a child, being declared invalid by the High Court in Pretoria.

This Brief discusses the amendment to Regulation 8 of the Medical Schemes Act and what it actually means to members of medical schemes and other stakeholders.

A discussion about Organ Donor Agencies and their regulation in South Africa.

Part 1 in this series provides a summary of the Court's decision in Stransham-Ford.

This brief reviews the Minister of Health's comments on the Medical Malpractice Issues in the Health Sector and responses to such comments

A discussion of the international egg donation programmes which are exploiting South African women amongst other women for the selling of their eggs. The procedures of the egg extractions are also discussed.

This special Brief is a report back on the Competition Commission's Market Inquiry into the Private Healthcare Sector conference.

This Brief reports on a recent seminar hosted by the Albertina Sisulu Executive Leadership Programme addressing the progress and challenges facing National Health Insurance. The Brief focuses on the NHI pilot districts, the concept of Universal Coverage, and raises questions about financing healthcare.

This brief aims to explain the key differences between medical schemes and health insurance and why demarcation between the two is important. Medical schemes, under the protection of the regulation of the Medical Schemes Act, have a large part to play in ensuring the right of access to healthcare. Similar protection is not afforded to other health insurance products. The right to healthcare may, therefore, be watered down if insurance companies, which are not governed by the Medical Schemes Act, are permitted to provide health insurance products similar to those provided by medical schemes.