Health

 

Allegations of fraud at UKZN medical school – Sama Responds

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The South African Medical Association (Sama) has called on the department of education to act swiftly to deal with allegations of fraud and corruption at the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). This comes amid allegations that certain members of the community, and some staff members from the UKZN, fraudulently..
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New drug Actemra approved for giant cell arteritis

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This drug has been approved to treat adults who suffer from a type of inflammation of the blood vessels. The injected drug Actemra (tocilizumab) has previously been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat rheumatoid arthritis in people who haven’t responded to or who cannot tolerated other approved rheumatoid arthritis medication, Health24..
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Medici medical app launches in South Africa

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A medical app, Medici, that is said to be revolutionising the doctor-patient relationship, is now available in South Africa. The next-generation secure messaging app enables users to communicate virtually with medical providers via text, call, or video. Originally launched in the U.S., the app hosts an array of practitioners including family physicians, paediatricians, dermatologists, dentists,..
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Pool-Linked Infection Doubles in 2 Years

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Families seeking to cool off don’t expect to pick up a nasty infection. Yet, outbreaks of a diarrhea-causing parasitic infection have doubled in recent years at swimming pools and water playgrounds in the United States, health officials warn. At least 32 outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis were reported in 2016, compared with 16 outbreaks in 2014, according..
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Making Sense of Medical Aid Rates and Tariffs

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The medical aid industry is known for confounding consumers with all sorts of complex terms. Among the most confusing of all are references to medical aid, or medical scheme, rates. Schemes and plans are quoted as covering the costs of in-hospital procedures up to 100%, 200% or 300% of the scheme rate or tariff. You..
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Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder, read on for more information about PD.

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Parkinson’s disease (PD) which involves the death and malfunction of vital nerve cells in the brain, called neurons. This usually occurs in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra. It leads to a reduction in a chemical called dopamine in the brain. Dopamine plays a vital role in regulating the movement of the..
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The winter is on it’s way so keeping the dreaded flu at bay !!

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That influenza, or flu, is merely an indisposition and not that serious is a myth. Graham Anderson, CEO and principal Officer at Profmed says: “The truth is that the flu is actually a relentless and possibly life-threatening disease which kills hundreds of thousands of people worldwide every year.” Graham says it is also incorrect to..
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Climbdown on medical aids

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The Department of Health has done a U-turn on its plan to scrap medical aid schemes, saying they should work with the state when it rolls out National Health Insurance instead. Department director-general, Precious Matsoso, met leaders of the medical aid plan sector and asked that they work together to reform healthcare in South Africa…
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Best and worst medical aids in South Africa.

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The latest GTC Medical Aid Survey for 2016 has been released, which compares local medical aid schemes on price across various levels of cover. According to the latest General Household Survey from Stats SA, only 17.5% of South Africans are covered by medical aid. Between 2002 and 2015, individuals who were covered by a medical..
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Three things you should know about Three things you should know about rotavirus

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Rotavirus is highly contagious and a common cause of infectious diarrhoea in developing countries. Since children younger than three are worst affected, a paediatrician sheds light on detection, prevention and treatment. 1. Infection Nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhoea and fever are the most common symptoms of rotavirus. These symptoms usually start one to three days after..
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‘No money for medicines’ shock – What is going to happen to the patients ???

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Patients’ anti-depressant, anti-anxiety drugs cut – but department denies shortage State patients needing anti-anxiety drugs or anti-depressants are being turned away from Provincial Hospital’s outpatient clinic and told by the nurses to buy their own drugs or that they do not need pills to stop an anxiety attack. “I have lost so much weight that..
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Is your GP contracted in to a medical scheme network?

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If GPs are contracted in to a medical scheme network, they might be pressurised to recommend cheaper treatment options and medications, say SA health bodies. The Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) and the IPA Foundation (IPAF) is extremely concerned at the comments made recently by the Health Professions Council of South Africa concerning Designated Service..
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Most affordable medical aid schemes and hospital plans in South-Africa for 2017

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The medical aid industry saw a massive shake-up in April as National Treasury introduced new regulations which will see a limit on the amount of gap cover and hospital cash-back policies you can claim, as well as the discontinuation of all primary healthcare policies. This is was done in an effort to differentiate between “medical..
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Why opting out for a cheaper medical cover can cost you in the long run

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Medical cover is expensive, and getting more so every year. Unfortunately this could mean we opt for lower monthly premiums that could mean you aren’t covered in the event of an expensive procedure. The South African Society of Anaesthesiologists (SASA) is advising South Africans to consider the multiple factors affecting cover when choosing access to..
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With winter around the corner, you need to know what flu really feels like !!!

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You’re sneezy, stuffed up, and feel bad all over. Is it a cold, or do you have the flu? The symptoms can be a lot alike. But if you know the warning signs of the flu, you can get treatment quickly and work on feeling better, sooner. What You Need to Know Unlike a cold,..
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