Covid-19 Vaccine Q&A – vaccine literacy cards English isiZulu seSotho isiXhosa Here we answer some frequently asked questions about the Covid-19 Vaccine. How do vaccines work, and why do we use them? What is the immune system and what do vaccines have to do with it? What is herd or Continue Reading
SECTION27 calls for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all. COVID-19 vaccines, which have been developed using public money and trialled on volunteers across the world, should not be used to enrich pharmaceutical companies and executives. They should not be hoarded by wealthy nations at the expense of low and Continue Reading
Fix the Patent Laws Coalition supports South Africa and India’s proposal to facilitate access to COVID-19 vaccines 15 October 2020, Johannesburg – The Fix the Patent Laws Coalition (FTPL), a group of over 40 organisations working to reform South Africa’s patent laws, welcomes the progressive proposal by South Africa and Continue Reading
Johannesburg, 18th May — In a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa published today, the Fix the Patent Laws (FTPL) coalition outlined major concerns about South Africa’s ability to access future treatments or vaccines for COVID-19. They point out that the country’s outdated patent laws ensure that when effective treatments become available, Continue Reading
Dear Dr Zweli Mkhize and Mr Tito Mboweni, As civil society organisations, SECTION27 and the Institute for Economic Justice congratulate you on your appointment to the portfolios of Minister of Health and Finance respectively. We wish you courage and fortitude as you take on these critical portfolios at a difficult Continue Reading
On the 26th of July at the International AIDS conference, hosted in the Netherlands, SECTION27 and the Treatment action campaign (TAC) launched a new publication documenting the history of the access to medicines movement in South Africa.
Cabinet recently approved a new Intellectual Property (IP) Consultative Framework for South Africa. This follows a Draft National IP Policy published for comment in 2013 – on which we and many other groups commented.[1] The 2013 Draft National IP Policy committed to reforming South Africa’s patent law to address shortcomings Continue Reading
The National Health Assembly, held at the University of the Western Cape from 24 – 26 June brought together organisations and individuals from all provinces in South Africa and beyond. The NHA participants identified the following issues around health and health care provision in South Africa: • the need for Continue Reading
On 14 June 2016, the Eastern Cape Health Action Crisis Coalition wrote to the South African Human Rights Commission in relation to the Eastern Cape Department of Health Response to the Commission’s report on Emergency Health Services in the province. We noted that on 1 April 2016, the Eastern Cape Department Continue Reading
Netcare agreed that the HPCSA is dysfunctional and the issue is particularly concerning because the country has a shortage of health professionals. Netcare emphasised the limitations on private bodies to train professionals proposing that the inadequacy in training capacity indicates a need for private medical training.
Health Professions Council of South Africa The last day of the second week of public hearings for the Health Market Inquiry began with submissions and extensive questioning of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). The HPCSA, which comprises over 30 health professions and 12 Professional Boards, began the day Continue Reading
The Health Market Inquiry heard today (23 February 2016) from health care professionals in the ongoing public hearings held by the Inquiry’s esteemed Panel headed by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo. Dr King, a cardiologist at Sunninghill Hospital, started the day discussing prescribed minimum benefits, particularly in relation to medicines. Continue Reading