Medical Brief

2 days ago | medicalbrief.co.za | Venilla Yoganathan

The White House has changed its mind about its nomination for America’s Surgeon-General post, withdrawing the nomination of Janette Nesheiwat in favour of Casey Means, a key figure in the “Make America Healthy Again” movement. The decision came a day before Nesheiwat, a physician and former Fox News medical commentator, was scheduled to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labour and Pensions Committee on Thursday for a confirmation hearing, reports The Washington Post.

2 days ago | medicalbrief.co.za | Venilla Yoganathan

The pandemic treaty reached by World Health Organisation (WHO) member states in April and which took more than three years to negotiate will be presented to the World Health Assembly for adoption next week. The legally binding document, which aims to create a unified response to the next pandemic, is proof that nations can still stand together despite rising geopolitical tensions, said co-chair of the talks Precious Matsoso last week.

2 days ago | medicalbrief.co.za | Venilla Yoganathan

Pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences has settled a massive civil lawsuit and admitted to paying hundreds of thousands of dollars and kickbacks in the form of honoraria payments, meals, and travel expenses to healthcare practitioners who spoke at or attended Gilead speaker events to induce them to prescribe its HIV drugs.

2 days ago | medicalbrief.co.za | Venilla Yoganathan

Counterfeit pharmaceutical product sales from online platforms and vendors are skyrocketing in South Africa, according to a newly-released independent report, which has called for tighter security measures, more accountability, and the establishment of a national pharma crime team. As consumers step up efforts to try to source cheaper versions of scheduled medications, the concerned stakeholders say regulatory gaps make it difficult for law enforcement to stop these illegal sales.

2 days ago | medicalbrief.co.za | Venilla Yoganathan

The Gauteng Department of Health still owes service providers R367m, having paid just 21% of its invoices between January and March because of “significant cash flow constraints”, yet it had underspent by a significant R724m, it was revealed during the provincial Treasury’s briefing this week.