MAHALA Covid-19 vaccine Getty Images.
The government has reiterated the vaccine will be administered for free as it marks one year since the first Covid-19 case was reported in South Africa.
The health department s technical adviser, Dr Aquina Thulare, said people who do not belong to medical aid schemes will be funded through the fiscus. She spoke during a briefing to Parliament s Portfolio Committee on Health on Friday, to outline the country s Covid-19 vaccine plans.
Vaccines will be stored at Biovac, a partly state-owned bio-pharmaceutical company, which will be responsible for distribution. Biovac will supply vaccines to private sector providers that will be vaccinating. There will be claims against the medical aid schemes that the members belong to. The schemes are going to pay for the vaccine, using a mechanism called the single exit price. This will go back into the fiscus to enable government to purchase more vaccines, she said.
Michael Ciaglo, Getty Images via AFP
The Covid-19 vaccine will be administered for free.
People who
Uninsured patients also have the option to be vaccinated at a private facility.
The government has reiterated the vaccine will be administered for free as it marks one year since the first Covid-19 case was reported in South Africa.
The health department s technical adviser, Dr Aquina Thulare, said people who do not belong to medical aid schemes will be funded through the fiscus.
She spoke during a briefing to Parliament s Portfolio Committee on Health on Friday, to outline the country s Covid-19 vaccine plans.
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After the 2019 elections, new MECs for health (provincial ministers) were appointed in four of South Africa’s nine provinces. Almost two years later, three of the four are no longer in their jobs. This continues a trend whereby seeing out a four-year term as MEC for health is the exception rather than the rule.
Since the day-to-day running of South Africa’s public healthcare system is devolved to provinces, these provincial ministers have an important role to play in ensuring people in South Africa receive quality healthcare. It is thus critically important that only appropriately qualified and committed persons are appointed to these positions. Where MECs are not up to the job or where there are credible charges of corruption against them, they should obviously be removed from these positions.
Tembisa Hospital CEO takes Health Department on over suspension
The Young Nurses Indaba most recently dismissed the suspension of the Tembisa Hospital head as nothing more than a smoke screen.
NO GROUNDS FOR SUSPENSION – SAYS MOGALADI
Mogaladi’s legal counsel has reportedly served Makgoba and Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize’s offices with documentation notifying them of his intention to appeal the Ombudsman’s report and the resulting suspension.
A statement from Mogaladi indicates he does not believe there is a basis for disciplinary action against him. He has further accused the Gauteng Health Department of bias over the appointment of an interim CEO, without “considering Mogaladi’s representation”.
South Africa in talks to develop Covid-19 vaccines locally – but there’s a hitch
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Cape Town-based pharmaceutical company Biovac says it is negotiating with a number of international companies to produce their Coivd-19 vaccines in South Africa.
Biovac chief executive Dr Morena Makhoana told the
Sunday Times that the company has not signed any deals as yet as it is still waiting to see the efficacy of all of the available vaccines on the newer Covid-19 variants.
“The main challenge is that if in time some vaccines have better efficacy than others, government may be forced to purchase more of that vaccine that is suitable for South Africa.”