Unprecedented public distrust of the Department of Health is threatening its efforts to eradicate inequalities in the public health sector. In the month since Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was reappointed to a second term as health minister, the department has had to juggle two court cases, resignations of crucial staff and glitches in the anti-retroviral (ARV) roll-out plan.
With a new Cabinet in place, there are fears of a shakeup among directors general (DGs), who are in the front line of government service delivery. In the past, political and personal differences between Cabinet ministers and their DGs have often led to the latter leaving the civil service. Labour DG Rams Ramashia left his job earlier this month because of clashes with his minister.
After four years of litigation, a non-profit research organisation has received an out-of-court settlement from former employees whom it accused of poaching clients for their own new consultancy while still in the NGO’s employ. The Community Agency for Social Enquiry (Case) was a key think-tank during the apartheid years.
It’s official: President Thabo Mbeki’s Aids panel is still very much in existence. But who its current members are, how much money the whole exercise has cost to date, what research it is still conducting, and when its cryptic work will be finalised remain a mystery.
Walking into a pharmacy in the next three months will be like throwing dice. From last week pharmacists, distributors, wholesalers and manufacturers will have to change the way they do business, with discounting, rebating and bonusing prohibited by the Medicines and Related Substances Act. However, old stock will remain on the shelves and can be sold.
The Eastern Cape has some of the poorest districts in the country, according to Statistics South Africa
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The appointment of the Cabinet and provincial premiers is the prerogative of President Thabo Mbeki — and one which he has so far determinedly exercised on his own. In part, Mbeki most probably does it to avoid the manoeuvring and the creation of cabals that would almost be sure to follow if African National Congress officials felt they could campaign their way into Cabinet.
The people of Africa face a painful conundrum: ”They clearly see that political democratisation has delivered a tangible basket of political goods which they appreciate; yet they are keenly aware that economic liberalisation has left them worse off, resulting in a decline (in their human security) rather than progress,” says the latest Afrobarometer survey.
The auditor general’s office confirmed this week that it has received a detailed letter alleging misappropriation of funds by the National Association of People Living with Aids (Napwa), which receives millions each year from the Department of Health.
She dodged the threat of legal action by Aids activists, and then had to deal with apparent threats from drug firms to pull out of the country. All in all, it was a torrid week for Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. But last week yet another furore involving multinational pharmaceutical companies erupted.