For the most part, mental health is a neglected health issue and often, because of the nature of the condition, leaves patients who suffer from mental health problems in need of protection. The SA Federation for Mental Health is a national, not for profit, non-governmental organisation that aims to co-ordinate, Continue Reading
SECTION27’s submission to the Health Market Inquiry In its submission to the Health Market Inquiry into the private healthcare sector, SECTION27 discusses the importance of an evidence-based analysis of the merits of price regulation within in the health care sector. We note that the current absence of an effective framework Continue Reading
Patient voices to finally be heard in the Health Market Inquiry In the early hours of 4 May 2011, Phindile Mlotshwa was startled awake because she couldn’t breathe. She didn’t make it to work that day because she had difficulty drawing breath and very quickly developed a severe headache. She consulted Continue Reading
In March 2015, the South African Human Rights Commission held a hearing on Emergency Medical Services in the Eastern Cape. The Commission’s interest in Eastern Cape emergency medical services emerged from a complaint submitted to the Commission by the community of Xhora Mouth, a group of around 2000 people living Continue Reading
JOHANNESBURG, Tuesday 20th January: The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and SECTION27 applaud India’s decision to reject a patent application on sofosbuvir, an important new treatment for Hepatitis C. Last Wednesday’s decision paves the way for increased access to more affordable sofosbuvir in India and other countries Continue Reading
VOTE YES TO STOP TB and DR-TB Activist statement to the 4th SA TB Conference Call for TB and DR-TB in SA to be declared a Public Health Emergency in South Africa Dear TB Conference 2014 Delegates, We know that TB is a preventable and treatable bacteria that can be Continue Reading
SECTION27 condemns the action taken by pharmaceutical companies to undermine the Draft Intellectual Property Policy process that is currently underway in South Africa. SECTION27, together with its partners has been calling for reforms to the IP regime in line with the constitutional right to health care services for many years. The DTI’s Continue Reading
SECTION27, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have released a statement welcoming the DTI’s call for public comments on the National Policy on Intellectual Property (IP). Please follow the link to read the full press statement. SECTION27, TAC, MSF response to DTI draft I.P. policy
SECTION27 and the TAC have released a statement highlighting recent improprieties by pharmaceutical companies and calling for more vigilance from all stakeholders in ensuring that we meet the goals of the National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS, TB and STIs.
SECTION27 and the TAC sent an open letter to the Gauteng MEC of Health yesterday. Parts of it were published in “The Star” newspaper. Click “Read More” to access the full version.
On Monday, 4 March 2013, SECTION27 and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) launched the “Monitoring Our Health Report”. SECTION27 and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) spent the past year interviewing and corresponding with doctors, nurses and patients who are at the coalface of the crisis in order to better understand Continue Reading
May 30th 2012
Over the last two weeks SECTION27 together with our partners the Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP), TAC, Africa Health Placements (AHP), Rural Rehabilitation South Africa (RuRESA), the Rural Doctors Association (RuDASA) and the South African Medical Association have received many reports from health care professionals and activists within the Eastern Cape who are concerned about the rapid decline in service delivery in the province.
These reports chronicle a variety of issues including non-payment of staff, drug stock-outs and shortages of basic medical supplies, and point to widespread systemic failures in the management and financing of services in the province. Although the crisis has been devastating to all types of state health facilities in the province, the impact of delayed or non-payment of critical healthcare workers and the difficulties in replacing such essential staff is even more acutely felt in rural areas, where healthcare teams are small and extremely fragile.
This briefing note for the public and the media outlines the tenuous financial position of the department, based on official internal Eastern Cape Department of Health documents that we have obtained.
Read the complete note by clicking “read more” below.