Health

 

US scientists successfully change embryo DNA

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A team of US researchers has changed the DNA of single-cell embryos using gene-editing technique CRISPR, according to a report from MIT Technology Review.

This is the first known attempt at creating genetically-modified human embryos in the US.

None of the embryos were allowed to develop beyond a few days, but the scientists have demonstrated it is possible to safely correct defective genes using germline engineering.

Human embryos allowed to develop following this process would also pass on gene corrections to their offspring.

Germline engineering has the potential to eradicate genetic diseases and create “designer babies” with genetic enhancements.

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3D printing disruption, medical implant sector ripe

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Medical technology which is often expensive at the time of market entry becomes cheaper over time. But 3D printing in medicine has started to revolutionise the field, especially with its rapidly declining costs and increased accessibility of the technology.

It is the technology that makes it more cost-effective. Although considerably costlier than existing implant solutions, the precision of end-product is what ensures the success of the 3D-printed medical devices. Because its designed from the thoroughly analysed digital model, 3D implants leave no room for error as compared to the traditional techniques which usually require additional processing adding waste and extraction costs.

With enhanced precision, 3D printed orthopedic and dental implants, including those that are difficult-to-treat have witnessed an impressive success rate in the past half of the decade. In line with this, a Fact.MR market study has estimated sales of medical implant segment to reach o
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Eerste tenders vir omstrede nasionale gesondheidsversekering uitgereik

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Die eerste tenders vir die omstrede nasionale gesondheidsversekering (NGV) is uitgereik.

Die departement van gesondheid soek voorstelle van die private sektor oor hoe om vyf programme – sommiges wat tans katastrofies deur staatshospitale behartig word – reg te ruk.

Net drie van die land se grootste administrateurs van mediese fondse het opgedaag vir die inligtingsessie om sake te gesels, verneem Rapport.

Kundiges het in reaksie gesê dié NGV-planne lyk glad nie soos die ideologiese prentjie van ’n funksionerende geïntegreerde gesondheidsdiens vir almal nie, maar is eerder ’n uitkontraktering van bestaande pligte van die staat teen bykomende koste.

Die regering soek private maatskappy om onder meer die volgende te doen:

* Bestralingsdienste vir kankerpasiënte: Luiden
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How will private healthcare evolve under Universal Health Coverage (UHC)?

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With National Health Insurance, the Competition Commission investigation and sky-rocketing costs, it’s no wonder that the private healthcare sector (and the public sector for that matter) is a tad wary about what the future holds.

However, in which ever way, shape or form it manifests itself, universal health coverage (UHC) is inevitable. It forms part of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals. “To promote physical and mental health and well-being and to extend life expectancy for all, we must achieve universal health coverage and access to quality healthcare. No one must be left behind. This places UHC as the target that underpins and is key to achievement of other Goal 3 targets.”

Set of goals

According to Dr Rufaro Chatora, World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative says UHC provides a set of goals rather than tell us how to organise a health system. “This is logical as each country faces different challenges
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National laboratory workers strike after negotiations stall, provinces fail to pay

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The nationwide industrial action is expected to last at least until Friday and could affect patients living with conditions such as cancer and HIV.
Workers from the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) will embark on a national strike on Wednesday after last-minute wage negotiations stalled.

NHLS managers met officials from the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) and the Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA), representing laboratory workers, on Monday in an attempt to thwart nationwide industrial action. Although the NHLS and unions agreed on a 7.3% wage increase, they could not agree on workers’ benefits such as a housing allowance, medical aid and uniform allowance.

Both Nehawu and the PSA told Bhekisisa that they will strike from Wednesday after negotiations deadlocked. “They are offering us 7.3%, but with no added benefits like housing and medical aid. So we are still in dispute. The strike is [starting] tomor
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Syndicates and devious health professionals may target National Health Insurance

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Criminal networks are targeting your medical aid rands but could you be part of the problem too?

Criminal syndicates and unscrupulous doctors may be defrauding the private health sector of millions as experts warn that medical schemes may reach a breaking point.

“The health care sector is being targeted by criminal syndicates and even devious practitioners. It is a direct threat to the financial viability of medical schemes in the country, including any National Health Insurance initiative we attempt,” says medical advisor on healthcare forensics at medical aid administrator and risk management service, Medscheme Gregory Pratt. Pratt was speaking at the Board of Healthcare Funders Southern African Conference this week in Cape Town.

“The affordability of medical schemes in the country will soon reach a tipping point.”

In 2013 alone, Discovery Health recovered R300 million in fraudulent claims alone – a number that in 2014 CEO Jonathan Broomberg told
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Valsartan, cardiovascular medication recalled in SA

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Certain medicines containing the active pharmaceutical ingredient, valsartan, have been recalled by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) due to an impurity that was found at one of the manufacturing facilities in China that produces the molecule.

The molecule was recalled across several international markets including the USA and Europe as many originator and generic suppliers source valsartan from the same manufacturer.

The presence of the impurity, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), could be linked to changes in the way the active substance was manufactured, but a thorough investigation is currently underway to determine the exact cause. The NDMA is classified as a probable human carcinogen (carcinogen is any substance that when exposed to living tissue may cause the production of causing cancer) based on the results from laboratory tests, Sahpra said.

It stated that it will continue to investigate and assess whether the impurity may p
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The big question:- Why South Africa needs to discipline the private healthcare industry

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If a service is provided by a company rather than government, this does not automatically mean a market is at work. The point is fairly obvious but has passed many in South Africa by.

Private provision of services is moving into the spotlight in South Africa as the government looks to make the health system more accessible to the poor. One aspect is the Health Market Inquiry, established by the Competition Commission and chaired by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo. It recently released a provisional report recommending more regulation of private healthcare. It has invited comment on its ideas.

It is absolutely inevitable that whatever proposals it comes up with will be attacked as an assault on the free market in health care. This will ignore the reality – that there is no market in healthcare in South Africa, at least not one which works in the way in which markets are meant to work.

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Shortage of pathologists an inconvenience to families

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Post-mortems are mandatory to determine the cause of death. The shortage of pathologists in the country has left several distraught families stranded. The situation has resulted in the delay of conducting post-mortems. Grieving families are forced to wait much longer before burying their loved ones. One family had to have a funeral service without the..
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16 Foods That Boost Your Immune System

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Elderberry
It’s an old folk remedy. This fruit is loaded with nutrients called antioxidants, and it may help fight inflammation. In some lab studies, an extract from the berries appears to block flu viruses. But scientists caution that more study is needed. You definitely still need to get a yearly flu vaccination!

Button Mushrooms
They give you the mineral selenium and the B vitamins riboflavin and niacin. That helps you in several ways. If you’re low on selenium, you may be more likely to get a more severe flu. Riboflavin and niacin play a role in a healthy immune system.

Acai Berry
Its dark color is a sign that it’s got plenty of nutrients called anthocyanins.
There isn’t any research that shows acai is good for any specific condition. But in general, antioxidants from foods are a key part of a healthy lifestyle.
Enjoy these berries in juice or smoothies, or try them dried and mixed with granola.

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NHI financing model questioned by FMF

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The latest iteration of the National Health Insurance (NHI) policy paper is no closer to defining how much the scheme will cost and where the money will come from to pay for it.

Meanwhile, SA risks running out of tax payers to finance its social security commitments, said Dr Johann Serfontein, senior healthcare consultant with HealthMan and Jasson Urbach, director & head of the Free Market Foundation’s Health Policy Unit.

The NHI scheme is based on a government administered, centrally controlled, single-payer model. Healthcare decisions will be determined by government from the cradle to the grave. NHI will reduce the number of available services, mean fewer healthcare providers and patients will face long waiting lists. NHI concentrates power in the hands of government and requires it to act as both player and referee, leaving no room for the private sector. Under NHI, whether directly or indirectly, government will control the availability, financing and
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Pharma’s role in the government’s National Health Insurance

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In its current form, the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) is by no means perfect and there remains a lot of uncertainty around funding, medical skills shortages, the role medical aids will play and how infrastructural problems, wastage and corruption in the public sector will be tackled.

“Healthcare reform challenges all of us that operate in the sector to keep and expand our place at the table. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that NHI is here to stay, which makes it imperative for pharmaceutical companies to get involved in the debate at the highest level in order to help shape a sustainable and effective healthcare system for South Africa,” says Erik Roos, CEO of Pharma Dynamics…
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Blood pressure medicine recalled due to cancer risk – but the regulator took three weeks to act

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A drug to treat high blood pressure for almost 12‚500 South Africans is being recalled after the active ingredient was shown to be contaminated by a potentially cancer-causing chemical.

The recall‚ however‚ comes almost three weeks after the drug was removed from shelves in Europe‚ the UK and the USA because the Chinese manufactured active ingredient was contaminated. The regulator‚ South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA)‚ did not answer TimesLIVE queries about why it took so long to recall it here.

The drugs being removed from pharmacy shelves are Dynaval Co 80/12‚5mg‚ Dynaval Co 160/12‚5mg and Dynaval Co 160/25mg. They are manufactured by Cape Town-based Pharma Dynamics.

Dynaval is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure‚ or is given to patients who have had recent heart attacks.

But SAHPRA has warned patients that it is far more dangerous to stop taking blood pressure medicine and risk having a stroke than it is t
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According to patients SA’s top hospitals are in the Western Cape

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The Western Cape boasts the top hospitals in the country, followed by Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

See names of hospitals that have been included in the top 20 over the last three years.

This is according to the latest results of Discovery Health Patient Survey Score (PaSS) survey, which is based on patient experience scores.

Out of the top 20 hospitals for 2016, eight are located in the Western Cape with four in Gauteng and three in KwaZulu-Natal. The Free State and Mpumalanga have two each and the North West has one hospital in the top 20. Overall, 136 hospitals were included in the analysis of patient experience scores.

Dr Roshini Moodley Naidoo, head of Quality of Care at Discovery Health, says in general they find that hospitals are increasingly meeting higher patient expectations and needs since the survey was launched three years ago.

“Since publication of the survey scores, we are observing positive changes in how care is experienced by patients.
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Will the HMI insights get lost in the rush to finalise healthcare laws?

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Has the almost simultaneous release of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, the Medical Schemes Amendment Bill and the provisional findings of the Health Market Inquiry (HMI) created an information overload, where some of the insights from the inquiry could be lost in the noise?

“There is significant risk that the regulatory environment being created through the legislative amendment process currently underway could conflict with the lessons learned in the course of the HMI’s work, which will only be fully apparent on the release of its final report,” says Mark Arnold, principal officer of Resolution Health Medical Scheme.

A considerable amount of time, resources and expertise have been invested in the HMI, but with the final report due for release in November, however, there is a risk that the full benefit of these insights could be lost due to the timing of these inter-related developments, as the period for submissions on Medical Schemes Amen
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