Wellness

 

‘Bogus’ online doctor to be probed

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The Government Employee Medical Scheme has launched an investigation into claims it allowed staff at public relations firm Martina Nicholson Associates to give medical advice on its online column titled Dr Joe. Dr Joe was an online service for members of the GEMS medical aid scheme who wanted to discuss health concerns with a doctor…
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Suid-Rand-hospitaal in Johannesburg het 4 031 geboufoute

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Meer as 4 000 geboufoute is in die Suid-Rand-hospitaal in The Hill in Johannesburg geïdentifiseer en dit voldoen glo nie aan die Wet op Beroepsgesondheid en Veiligheid nie. Dr. Gwen Ramokgopa, Gautengse LUR vir gesondheid, het dit in ’n geskrewe antwoord op vrae deur Jack Bloom, DA-woordvoerder oor gesondheid in Gauteng, in die provinsiale wetgewer..
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Medical tax credits to go?

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There has been talk for some time now about the National Health Insurance (NHI) and how it will be funded. In his Budget Speech in February 2017, former finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, alluded to an adjustment to medical tax credits to partly fund the system. “The rationale behind replacing the tax deduction system with the..
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Medical aid waiting periods and late-joiner penalties: What. How. Why?

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The world of medical schemes in South Africa is a very different one to 25 years ago. There are strict rules and regulations governing the industry, there to protect both the members and the financial sustainability of the scheme. Now is the time of year when medical schemes announce their annual increases and benefit changes…
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What’s driving up our healthcare costs?

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Discovery Health CEO explains why South Africans are paying higher medical aid premiums than ever before. Access to quality healthcare at an affordable price is a critical priority for every family, and in society at large. South Africans lucky enough to afford private healthcare have rapid and convenient access to some of the best quality..
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Cancer treatment waiting times in KZN increase by almost 30% as services stall

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Cancer patients are waiting up to nine months for treatment, says the South African Human Rights Commission. KwaZulu-Natal cancer patients are now waiting nine months for treatment, alleges Democratic Alliance spokesperson for health in KwaZulu-Natal Imran Keeka. In a statement, Keeka said South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) chairperson Bongani Majola revealed this new information..
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The maddening state of Gauteng’s psychiatric facilities

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A massive shortages of hospital beds for psychiatric patients in Gauteng is compromising patient care. Gauteng is short of about 2700 psychiatric beds which means that psychiatric patients have to be admitted to general wards where there is no security, thus posing a threat both to themselves and others. This was revealed recently by Gauteng..
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Google search adds medical quiz to help diagnose depression.

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Google has integrated a medially-certified quiz into its search results to help users determine whether they have depression. Users in the United States who search Google for depression or clinical depression will now be greeted with a link labelled “Check if you are clinically depressed”. The link opens an integrated PHQ-9 questionnaire, which helps to..
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Nearly 2 million will lose private healthcare if tax reform happens

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The government’s plan to ditch medical aid tax credits will have a disastrous effect on already cash-strapped South Africans and force nearly 2 million people onto the over-stretched state health system. If the tax credit is removed, 22% of medical aid users will not be able to afford cover, Stellenbosch economics consultancy Econex warned in..
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Tygerberg Hospital performs its first deep brain stimulation

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A man with tardive dystonia became the first adult to undergo deep brain stimulation (DBS) at a Western Cape state hospital. His condition drastically improved following the procedure at Tygerberg. Until now it had only been performed on a few children at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital. The dystonia was a side effect of an..
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