Ina Skosana

1 week ago | health-e.org.za | Ina Skosana

Three years after the World Health Organization (WHO) launched Africa’s first mRNA vaccine technology transfer programme, the effort is beginning to pay off. The project was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, when most vaccines were snapped up by wealthy countries, leaving low and middle-income nations scrambling for access. Established by the WHO and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) in 2021, the programme is on its way to transforming the vaccine and therapeutic landscape in Africa.

1 month ago | health-e.org.za | Ina Skosana

South Africa has not been able to raise any additional funds to plug the gap in the country’s HIV programme following the withdrawal of PEPFAR funding in January. Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsaoledi says the department has met with various donors, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, to cover the R7.9 billion rand shortfall.

Feb 28, 2025 | health-e.org.za | Kathryn Cleary |Ina Skosana |Yoliswa Sobuwa

Public health experts and activists warn the sudden cut of US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) will strain an already overburdened public health system, with potential long-term consequences for HIV and tuberculosis (TB) response efforts.

Feb 27, 2025 | health-e.org.za | Yoliswa Sobuwa |Ina Skosana |Anne Githuku-Shongwe

Health minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has identified men as a major challenge in South Africa’s efforts against HIV. The problem: men are less likely to test for HIV, get started on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and stay on treatment. He was speaking at the launch of a campaign aimed at getting an additional 1.1 million people on HIV treatment by December 2025. Motsoaledi called out men, saying, “It is us who are holding it back.

Feb 25, 2025 | health-e.org.za | Ina Skosana |Yoliswa Sobuwa

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says the rising cost of private healthcare is an “uncontrollable expenditure” that impacts the entire South African economy. Motsoaledi, alongside Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition Parks Tau, held a joint press briefing on Monday to give updates on the progress made in the recommendations of the Health Market Inquiry into the private sector. He says the department will implement some of the inquiry’s recommendations as a temporary stopgap measure.