Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
health regulationlatest news & developments

Illegal weight loss drug floods SA

An investigation uncovers a rapidly growing, highly lucrative shadow market in South Africa for unapproved weight-loss drugs like Retatrutide, sold openly online and in gyms…

What’s ketamine all about? Bhekisisa recently spoke with Bavi Vythilingum, a member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists, who helped write the guidelines for ketamine use to understand more about the drug and how it works. (Wikimedia)

Elon Musk, depression and South Africa’s cowboy ketamine clinics

Ketamine has been used for decades as an anaesthetic drug, but in the past few years, more and more psychiatrists have been using it for hard-to-treat depression

Practitioners will have to pay registration fees to the council every year and show proof of being appropriately trained for the type of service they offer. (Photo supplied)

By 2025, sangomas will have to be registered to practise

The health department says new regulations likely to come into force early next year are a step towards getting Western and traditional medicine to work together

Digital health technologies empowers patients to take control of their own health

The future of health in South Africa

Digital health technology is already having a huge impact on healthcare, both for patients and health professionals

We have developed many of the tools needed to prevent, treat and contain disease, including vaccines, diagnostics and drugs. But world leaders are not doing enough to scale them up. (Unicef)

Prevent the next flu pandemic

The ability to contain outbreaks exists but states ignore the international treaty for health security

The health department will not buy some medicine for cancer and rare diseases as they are not ‘essential’ but there are legal ways to get drugs unavailable here

​Prioritising an overarching approach to medicines regulatory systems strengthening

The aim is to improve access to quality, safe and efficacious medical products

By working together, those involved in the medicines regulatory systems strengthening work on the continent will benefit those who need it most

​AMRH Partnership Platform – Advancing medicines regulatory outcomes in Africa

This initiative will harmonise the different interventions for maximum impact

AmaBhungane’s fake ­letter: the writing is over the stamp

Sick of work? Buy a doctor’s note

Fraudulent medical certificates are on sale on Katlehong’s streets – and business is booming

Saving the sickest

The new ART guidelines strictly state that initiation of treatment should not be delayed for more than a week in patients who fit certain criteria.

War over healthcare

Legislation aimed at stabilising medical schemes has run into heavy flak, reports Belinda Beresford.

A changing landscape

Belinda Beresford provides an Idiot’s Guide to health regulation