Latest news with #PortfolioCommitteeonHealth
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Medical schemes face scrutiny over racial discrimination against black health professionals
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi addressed the Portfolio Committee on Health regarding the Section 59 investigation report, which revealed that three medical schemes applied discriminatory risk ratios to black health professionals in disciplines such as physiotherapy, psychology, and social work. Image: GCIS There must be consequences and punitive measures, which include back payments by medical schemes, that were found to have applied systemic discrimination against black health professionals when they applied risk ratios against them. This call has come after the findings of a Section 59 investigation report revealed that three medical schemes, namely GEMS, Medscheme, and Discovery, applied discriminatory risk ratios to black health professionals, in disciplines such as physiotherapy, psychology, and social work, who are 'more likely' to be guilty of fraud, waste, and abuse. It is unclear how many medical professionals were affected by racial profiling and how many lost their business practices. The investigation was launched in 2019 after several healthcare providers made allegations that they were being unfairly treated by medical aid schemes based on race and ethnicity. The affected section relates to the payment of claims by black medical professionals. 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. 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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. Next Stay Close ✕ However, in the absence of remuneration guidelines by the National Health Act, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, during a portfolio committee meeting on Friday, said they will seek legal advice on the matter. The findings of the report raised questions during the meeting about equity within the profession, igniting discussions about fairness, accountability, and restitution. Motsoaledi said the Act does not indicate what steps should be taken, and currently, it appears the medical schemes decide their measures. 'This is a statutory matter due to the silence in the Act. It does not indicate the steps that the schemes must take when they investigate such a fraud. That is the weakness picked up by the panel, and the Act itself does not provide guidance on what should be done. 'The medical schemes have decided to divulge their methods, which were unfortunately tampered with by racial bias. Even if the Act does not outline what must be done, whatever is done in a new South Africa governed by democracy cannot be informed by racial profiling. We will have to look into that,' said Motsoaledi. The minister said the members of Parliament are 'not mere bystanders and observers', and have an onus on them to have the Act amended to speak specifically to such reform. Motsoaledi said they are still studying the report, and legal advice is being sought after its release on Monday. Chairperson for the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), Dr Thandi Mabeba, said the council will have a special sitting next Monday to interrogate the findings, recommendations, and the implications of such recommendations. Dr Mabeba said they would also hold engagements across the industry, including the steering committee. 'The minister has alluded to the report, which has damning findings, and as such, we need to apply our minds in ensuring that we guide the industry in a manner that is legally and in line with our statutory mandate.' On Monday, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, welcomed the findings of the Section 59 investigation panel. 'The report paints a concerning picture of the disproportionate impact that medical schemes' fraud, waste, and abuse systems have had on black healthcare providers…These findings are deeply troubling and point to systemic flaws in the design and implementation of the fraud, waste, and abuse systems. 'It is unacceptable that black healthcare providers have been subjected to such blatantly discriminatory treatment, which has undoubtedly had a devastating impact on their livelihoods and the communities they serve. 'We cannot allow such systemic discrimination to continue unchecked, as it undermines the transformation of the healthcare sector and the constitutional right to equality,' said Dr Dhlomo.
The South African
23-06-2025
- Business
- The South African
Sale of loose cigarettes to be BANNED under new law
Remember when you could just score loose cigarettes at the little shop on the corner? Well, updates to the Tobacco Bill aim to ban the sale of loose cigarettes by informal traders and spaza shops. And anyone caught doing so faces hefty fines and even imprisonment. However, the Portfolio Committee on Health has been hearing arguments against the law over the last week. Specifically, the Tobacco Products Control Bill in South Africa regulates all aspects of tobacco control, public smoking, advertising and packaging. Millions of illegal cigarettes smuggled into South Africa have been destroyed. Image: Pixabay According to the Cancer Association of South African (CANSA), tobacco-related diseases kill nearly 50 000 South Africans annually. More than 7-million South Africans smoke and there are over 1-billion smokers worldwide. Nevertheless, spaza shop owners and informal traders believe the banning of loose cigarettes could bankrupt their businesses, reports The Citizen . A spokesperson from the Enterprises and Hawkers Association told parliament that the ban on single cigarettes would cripple operations. He said customers only buy loose cigarettes because they cannot afford a full box. And they're a reliable means to bring customers to the shop/trader. The vast majority of e-cigarettes are sold online and therefore suffer from lax safety control, which the new laws hope to amend. Image: File Furthermore, the new Tobacco Bill aims improve public health by introducing stricter regulations. It will hold traders liable if customers are found smoking publicly near where they've purchased products. These laws include not just loose cigarettes but banning tobacco product displays at point of sale and regulating electronic nicotine devices (e-cigarettes). Currently, smoking in indoor public places is banned. Unless the smoking area makes up 25% of the premises. However, the new Tobacco Bill will completely ban smoking in all indoor public places and certain outdoor areas, too. Sale of tobacco products online will also be banned. This is in a bid to control underage smoking. As such, anyone who buys cigarettes and/or e-cigarettes will need to do so in person and produce a physical identification document at the point of sale. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Tobacco Bill bans sale of loose cigarettes – informal traders fear bankruptcy
A clause in the Bill bans the sale of single cigarettes, and if a person is found selling a 'loose' cigarette, they can be fined and/or imprisoned. The Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill in South Africa prohibits the sale of single cigarettes (or loose cigarettes), which informal traders say could bankrupt their businesses. It also regulates other aspects of tobacco control, including public smoking, advertising, and packaging requirements. The Portfolio Committee on Health discussed the impact of the Bill on businesses earlier this week. Members have completed public hearings in all provinces and are now taking oral submissions in parliament. ALSO READ: Why is parliament dragging its feet with the Tobacco Bill? Tobacco Bill Mampapatla Madikoto, Limpopo Small, Medium Enterprises and Hawkers Association general secretary, told members of the portfolio committee that the ban on single cigarettes would cripple their operations, as many of their customers not only buy cigarettes but also other items. A clause in the Bill bans the sale of single cigarettes. If a person is found selling a 'loose' cigarette, they can be fined and/or imprisoned. He added that there are many reasons why people decide to buy single cigarettes, including a box being too expensive, or they are trying to control their smoking habit. Display of tobacco products Madikoto added that the clause will affect approximately two million informal traders, hawkers, spaza shop owners and home-based operators across the country. The proposed Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill aims to strengthen these measures further by introducing even stricter regulations. This includes banning the display of tobacco products at the point of sale, regulating electronic nicotine delivery systems, and potentially moving towards plain packaging. He told the members that the Bill's ban on displaying cigarettes on countertops or tables is impractical. ALSO READ: Tobacco bill won't curb smoking in the least Smoking outdoors The proposed Bill also seeks to hold traders liable if their customers are found smoking near their stalls in outdoor public places that are designated nonsmoking areas. Currently, tobacco legislation prohibits smoking in indoor public places, except for designated smoking areas that can be up to 25% of the indoor area. However, the government is considering a complete ban on smoking in indoor public places and certain outdoor public areas. The owner of the restaurant/pub, or employer, will be responsible for ensuring that the public space designated as a nonsmoking area is smoke-free. Selling online Madoda Khuzwayo, CEO and founder of SIP, told the committee that the Bill discriminates against online shopping. The Bill seeks to ban the sale and offer for sale of tobacco products online. Khuzwayo, who sells alcohol and tobacco products online, said this clause is unfair, as selling such products contributes significantly to his business. He highlighted that online retailers will not be able to list any tobacco products, while larger physical retailers are permitted to do so. ALSO READ: Pressure mounts for government to pass Tobacco Bill Underage smoking One of the reasons for the strict measures is to control underage smoking, which Khuzwayo has addressed in his business. 'When someone buys alcohol or cigarettes through our business, they will need to produce a physical identification document upon delivery, which will be captured into the system. 'But it is close to impossible for underage smoking to be prevented if children need to go into the store to make a purchase, because some look older and there will be no need to ask for proof of identity,' he added. He said the government can check online retailers' data to prove that alcohol and tobacco are not being sold to minors. Additionally, most of the websites that sell these items block minors. Khuzwayo has requested that the government consider removing the clause banning online tobacco sales. He highlighted that without the necessary amendments, the Bill risks discriminating against small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as e-commerce is many SMEs' main source of revenue. 'Without amendments, the Bill entrenches inequality, especially in townships, and excludes emerging small business players,' he said. NOW READ: Budget 3.0: Alcohol and cigarette prices will increase — here's by how much
IOL News
11-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Vaping industry calls for smarter nicotine policies as smoking rates surge in South Africa
While advocating for alternatives like e-cigarettes and vaping as viable harm reduction tools, Yeo pointed to the necessity of cessation support mandated by the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which South Africa has yet to implement. Image: File photo The vaping industry has called for smarter nicotine policies as South Africa grapples with alarming increases in combustable tobacco smoking rates. This comes as Parliament continues to hold public consultations on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, which seeks to impose stricter product and related product processing, regulate tobacco product and advertising, and standardise the 'packaging and appearance' of tobacco and electronic delivery system products. The Tobacco Bill prohibits leaves no room for any form of display of tobacco and electronic delivery systems, including both nicotine and non-nicotine products. Delivering oral submissions to the Portfolio Committee on Health on Wednesday, Kurt Yeo from Vaping Saved My Life made a plea not only for regulated alternatives but for a complete paradigm shift in how South Africa views nicotine consumption and tobacco harm reduction. 'I stand before you today, not as an opponent of regulations but a voice for a smarter, evidence-based approach to nicotine policy in South Africa. I represent the perspectives of consumers, especially smokers looking to quit and to those who have chosen safer alternatives. They deserve access to safe alternatives, accurate information, and non-coercive public health policy,' Yeo said. 'In real terms, more people smoke, snort, and chew tobacco than two decades ago, most of whom are in low middle-income countries. I believe it's because most of the attention has been directed at supply, and not addressing the demand. 'In South Africa, smoking prevalence has surged, from 6.7 million smokers in 2012 to 11.1 million in 2021, a staggering 65.7% increase. This is not due to the lack of regulation, but rather a failure of enforcement and the lack of cessation support. We need a standard set of robust, consistent reporting tools focused on nicotine consumption.' 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. 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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. Next Stay Close ✕ With a mere 0.78% of South Africans managing to quit smoking in 2021, Yeo said the current policy landscape appeared ineffective, placing undue pressure on smokers by offering little more than ultimatums. While advocating for alternatives like e-cigarettes and vaping as viable harm reduction tools, Yeo pointed to the necessity of cessation support mandated by the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which South Africa has yet to implement. 'We must be cautious not to criminalise addiction or alienate those trying to quit. Coercion will not achieve the results that education and support can. New evidence shows that non-combustible nicotine products carry significantly less risk. Lifetime cancer risk and toxic exposures are dramatically lower than with smoking,' Yeo said. 'We must shift from the harm-is-harm ideology to the risk continuum approach. That's what saves lives. E-cigarettes, or vapes, are significantly less harmful than combustible tobacco.' The Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) said it has become increasingly concerned about the to-date unregulated nature of Vapour Products in South Africa, and to this end sought to address this lacuna. ARB CEO, Gail Schimmel, said they were in support of the ban in so far as it relates to traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes.
IOL News
02-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Government aims for zero deaths in upcoming winter initiation season
Part of the strategy includes stricter enforcement against illegal initiation schools, which often operate without trained caregivers or medical oversight. As South Africa enters the traditional winter initiation season, the government is setting an ambitious target: zero deaths among initiates. This comes after a tragic season last year, when at least 93 young boys lost their lives during cultural initiation rites across the country. On Friday, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa officially launched the 2025 Winter Initiation Season, emphasising that the safety and dignity of initiates must be the top priority. Speaking at the launch event, Minister Hlabisa acknowledged the challenges ahead but stressed that every life must be protected. 'We cannot accept any more deaths. We owe it to these young men and their families to ensure their journey into adulthood is safe, dignified, and respected,' he said. The winter season, which typically sees a spike in the number of initiation ceremonies — especially in provinces like the Eastern Cape and Limpopo — has often been marred by incidents of dehydration, sepsis, physical abuse, and, in some cases, illegal schools operating without proper oversight. To change this, Hlabisa called for stronger collaboration between traditional leaders, government departments, health professionals, and local communities. 'This is not a challenge for one sector to tackle alone. It requires all of us — government, traditional councils, families, and community members — to work together,' he said. The initiative has received backing from Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Health. Chairperson Dr. Sibongiseni Dhlomo said the committee supports the minister's zero-death goal and stressed the importance of accountability within traditional structures. 'We must continue engaging with our traditional leaders, because the role they play in overseeing these schools is crucial,' said Dr Dhlomo. 'We need to ensure that initiation practices are monitored, regulated, and rooted in both cultural integrity and safety.'
