Tag: PublicHealth

Experts at the World Health Organisation (WHO) have long argued that another pandemic remains an epidemiological certainty. However, the global systems designed to protect populations still raise serious concerns. This reality has become increasingly urgent. It is both perplexing and inspiring that in 2026, we continue to address fundamental questions concerning the effective delivery of healthcare services to various populations.

Healthcare policy in South Africa has become emotionally charged. While National Health Insurance (NHI) is often presented as an inevitable endpoint, medical schemes are portrayed as temporary structures awaiting replacement. The 2026 Healthcare Budget tells a more sober story. What stood out to me was not dramatic reform but restraint. The government did not introduce a new NHI tax.

For her entire adult life, Oprah Winfrey has struggled with her weight. She never thought that medicines would provide hope, health and healing for people like her within her lifetime. However, her conversations with Dr Ania Jastreboff from the Yale School of Medicine reveal an important truth.

South Africa has one of the highest levels of alcohol consumption per capita in the world. The government has long used a sin tax to address this challenge. By steadily raising the price of alcohol, the aim is twofold. The policy seeks to discourage excessive drinking and generate revenue for public health initiatives. However, while the intention is clear, the reality is more complicated.

Extreme heat is emerging as one of the most dangerous climate-related threats. However, it remains largely overlooked because its impacts are less visible than floods or hurricanes. As global temperatures continue to rise, governments face mounting pressure to respond. Experts increasingly describe extreme heat as a “silent killer” that affects health, infrastructure and economic productivity.