Sama calls for better care for junior doctors after death of intern at work
The South African Medical Association (Sama) has called for urgent reform in the treatment of junior doctors, warning that unsafe working conditions are putting young health-care workers and patients at risk.
This association was responding to the death of Alulutho Mazwi, a medical intern in the paediatrics department at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital, who died at work on Monday.
He had recently received a diabetes diagnosis and had significant health challenges, the chair of the parliamentary portfolio committee on health Sibongiseni Dhlomo said on Thursday.
The Public Servants' Association (PSA) alleged Mazwi had been forced by a supervisor 'to work while critically ill'.
Sama spokesperson Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa said junior doctors were among the most vulnerable in the country's health-care system, often expected to work under immense pressure, frequently for extended hours without adequate rest or support.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
3 hours ago
- The Herald
Cape Town lab tests thousands of samples as city notes increase in foodborne illnesses
Noting a gradual increase in foodborne illnesses, the City of Cape Town says its microbiological laboratory has tested nearly 5,000 food samples over 10 months to verify the items were safe to eat. Tests are conducted on ready-to-eat and dairy products, from sushi to baked goods. The laboratory also conducts testing of samples in cases of foodborne illnesses. Food handling, production and processing environments from manufacturers to retailers and takeaways to old age homes, informal traders and spaza shops are included in the sampling. 'The testing is essential for identifying unhygienic conditions, poor food handling practices and possible contamination to prevent potential outbreaks,' said the city. 'Over 10 months since July 2024, the laboratory received 4,853 samples that were subjected to 17,759 analyses. The sample results yielded an overall compliance rate of 84.55%.' The city said it had noted a 'steady increase' in reported foodborne illnesses from July 2022 to April 2025. 'As Covid-19 restrictions eased, there was a return to normal food handling, dining and social behaviours. This may have led to increased exposure to foodborne pathogens and a rebound in reported cases. The increase in notifications, specially in 2024, may also reflect better detection, reporting and surveillance systems as public health operations normalised post-pandemic,' said community services and health MMC Francine Higham. 'However, as the underreporting of foodborne illness is known to be extensive, the actual incidence is likely to be far higher, which reinforces the need for regular testing of foodstuffs in the public domain.' The city described its health department's food microbiological laboratory and environmental health practitioners as frontline defenders against foodborne illnesses. TimesLIVE
Mail & Guardian
5 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
Monthly prescription rule blocks ADHD treatment for South African children
Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder affects 5% to 7% of schoolgoing children, but doctors can only prescribe treatment for a month at a time Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Methylphenidate, a Studies have shown that when the methylphenidate — the Methylphenidate is, however, classified as a This means patients need to visit their doctor each month for a new prescription, so in the private sector they'd need to pay for a doctor's visit each month, on top of paying for the medication, and in the public sector patients would need to take a day each month to queue up at their local clinic — and they'd have to make sure it's a day on which a doctor, as opposed to only nurses, are available at their health facility. The current scheduling creates huge administrative and financial difficulties for patients and caregivers when they try to get treated, especially for those navigating ADHD's very symptoms: executive dysfunction, forgetfulness and inattention. As a psychiatrist, working in both the public and private healthcare sector, I've seen the toll that untreated ADHD takes on children, adults and families — from fractured educational journeys to unemployment, depression, addiction and even suicide. These are not theoretical risks but daily realities for many South Africans. And yet one of the biggest obstacles that locks people out of treatment — our own healthcare policies — remains unchanged. It's time that we change that script. Our medicines regulator, the Here are four reasons why methylphenidate should be a schedule five medication. More people with ADHD will get treated ADHD is not rare — a In While we rightly invest in treating chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, we continue to overlook the profound, lifelong effect of untreated ADHD. These factors contribute to the burden of disease and consequent stress on the health system — but most importantly, they reduce the quality of life of people with ADHD and their families. Medication can change this, yet access is limited. In many poorer communities Although stigma and the cost of methylphenidate ( Current scheduling does not prevent abuse Opponents of rescheduling often cite concerns about misuse — especially among tertiary students using methylphenidate for academic enhancement. Although these concerns are valid, evidence suggests that the current schedule six classification does little to prevent non-medical use. Studies show that Meanwhile, genuine patients — particularly children and teenagers — are penalised by overly restrictive policies that reduce access to the very medicine designed to help them succeed. We must ask ourselves: is the current scheduling preventing abuse, or is it merely restricting access for those who need it most? If the answer is the latter, then we have an ethical obligation to change course. Rescheduling does not mean deregulation. It means creating a more nuanced, risk-based framework — one that acknowledges both the need for control and the realities of living with a chronic disorder. More people will take their medicine correctly How well someone adheres to their medication, determines, to a large extent, how well the medicine works for them. But studies show For people with ADHD — with symptoms that impair their ability to organise, plan and follow through — the monthly schedule six script requirement can become a self-defeating cycle. The very condition we are trying to treat creates challenges in adhering to its treatment. Unsurprisingly, participants in the Moreover, research shows, people with ADHD who use their medication correctly, are also more likely to adhere to medication for other conditions, for The state is doing the same thing for antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds ADHD medication is not the only psychiatric medicine that needs rescheduling. South Africa's But the government health system — which most HIV-positive people in the country use to get their treatment — doesn't have nearly enough doctors to staff clinics full-time. Instead, nurses run such clinics, with doctors only doing shifts once or twice a week. Getting nurses to diagnose mental health conditions and to prescribe treatment, will mean that patients won't have to return for doctors' appointments to get treated. Policy is never value neutral. It reflects what we, as a society, choose to prioritise. In the case of ADHD, we must choose inclusion over exclusion, access over fear, and healing over harm. Rescheduling methylphenidate is not about giving up control; it's about restoring agency to patients, families and clinicians alike. response from chief executive Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela : Sahpra is open to the rescheduling of scheduled substances. For this to happen, either the manufacturer of a medicine or anyone in the scientific community who has data for us to consider has to submit a request for rescheduling, along with the required scientific and clinical data. We'll have our names and scheduling committee, as well as our clinical committee, review the submissions. We would also consider additional data, outside of what would have been provided, and then make a decision. This process takes about 120 days. Professor Renata Schoeman is a Cape Town-based psychiatrist and the co-author of South Africa's and chairs the special interest group for ADHD. She serves on the ministerial advisory committee for mental health and heads up the healthcare leadership MBA specialisation stream at Stellenbosch University. This story was produced by the . Sign up for the .
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
'No mask mandates yet', but precautions urged as flu and Covid subvariant spread
Health experts urge caution as new COVID variants and flu circulate this winter. Mask up if symptomatic and avoid large gatherings to protect vulnerable groups. Image: FILE As South Africa heads into the 2025 winter season, the South African Medical Association (SAMA) and international health experts are raising awareness about rising flu cases and emerging COVID-19 Omicron subvariants, including NB1.8.1, currently detected in multiple countries. SAMA chairperson, Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa, clarified in a recent interview with Newzroom Afrika that while there is no formal call to reintroduce mask mandates, precautionary measures remain important. He said, 'If you have symptoms, whether flu symptoms or similar symptoms, it's always good to protect those that are around you by putting on a mask, but making sure that you don't attend gatherings, large gatherings, if you have flu symptoms.' The new COVID-19 variants are being closely monitored worldwide, with the World Health Organisation classifying NB1.8.1 as a variant under observation, said Mzukwa. 'We're looking at its spread, its severity, but it's early days. There's nothing to worry about at the moment,' Mzukwa said. He said while COVID-19 continues to circulate at low, endemic levels in South Africa, the main concern remains protecting vulnerable individuals, particularly those with underlying health conditions. The alarm would only be raised if hospitalisations increase or healthcare facilities come under significant pressure. Addressing pandemic fatigue, Mzukwa highlighted the importance of ongoing public education: 'It is critical for the medical association and other organisations to continue educating the public, not to make them panic, but to say there is this that we're facing.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ He also stressed the importance of vaccination, especially for flu: 'It is very important that we encourage communities to get vaccinated, especially for flu, so that if you are in a vulnerable group, you can be protected against severe illness.' With flu season in full swing, Mzukwa urged responsible behavior to limit the spread: 'If your child has flu symptoms, don't send them to school. You need to protect other children, especially those with underlying medical conditions.' He reminded the public that masks are not just for COVID: 'Masks were not only meant for COVID. It was also meant for the flu. If you've got flu symptoms, you protect other people in the workplace and the community.' Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel IOL News
