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SAMA Social Media
For continued updates on News, Events, Webinars & Communications, please join via the links
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SAMA is now on Telegram | Please join via the link.
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Dear Colleagues
Dealing with the ongoing global pandemic and its demands on healthcare workers, is taking its toll on everybody involved in the care and services to patients. Our SAMA members, with the support from our staff and other healthcare workers, play an important role in managing not just the COVID-19 pandemic, but also the general wellbeing of our patients. In most cases unfortunately in very challenging situations.
The recently published findings by Health ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba about the conditions which lead to the death of COVID-19 patient Mr Shonisani Lethole at Tembisa Hospital, point to a massive failure in the healthcare system in the country.
According to the report, Tembisa Hospital should never have been designated as a COVID-19 hospital. This is, sadly, a situation repeated in many other hospitals throughout the country. We cannot continually be looking at these types of incidents as being isolated. We have reported many times about similar conditions elsewhere and about the need for urgent intervention. Unless this intervention occurs, and rapidly, we fear another case such as this will occur. Our medical professionals are taking tremendous strain and can not be expected to continue taking the responsibility for the lack of resources and incompetence. SAMA will be monitoring and interacting with the relevant stakeholders in this regard.
The proposed amendments to the Compensation for Occupational Injuries (COID) Act has far reaching consequences for our SAMA members. To ensure our submission is thorough, thoughtful, and accurate, we require your inputs. The link to the member questionnaire and relevant communication is attached to this communication for your convenience.
Information quantity and speed affecting our industry has seen a tremendous rise during the last few months. We therefore also need to adjust the way we interact and disseminate information to our members on platforms they use daily and are comfortable with. Our existing social media platforms will therefore be utilised more, and information flow will definitely benefit. Social media has become the source of instant information and a tool our members could also use to interact with SAMA. I urge our members to join the SAMA platforms.
I value my interaction with you and you are invited to do so at any time.
Be safe.
Yours in Solidarity
Dr. Angelique Coetzee
SAMA: Chairperson
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Proposed amendments to the Occupational Injuries (COID) Act
Last year the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour tabled proposed amendments to the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases (COID) Act of 1993. The proposed amendments are contained in the COID Amendment Bill [B21-2020], the full text of which can be viewed on Parliament’s website at https://www.parliament.gov.za/bill/2292817
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has specific concerns about Clause 43 of the Amendment:
"Amendment of section 73 of Act 130 of 1993 - 43. Section 73 of the principal Act is hereby amended by the addition of the following subsections:‘‘(3) Notwithstanding the provision of subsection (2) the medical practitioner may after the claim has been finalised or the period referred to in subsection (1) has lapsed, apply for reopening of the claim and payment of further medical costs.(4) Any provision of any agreement existing at the commencement of this Act or concluded thereafter in terms of which a service provider cedes or purports to cede or relinquishes or purports to relinquish any rights to medical claim in terms of this Act, shall be void.’
However, to ensure our submission is thorough, thoughtful, and accurate, we require your inputs. To this end we are appealing to you to complete the questionnaire to this brief summary at CLICK HERE to enable us to reflect your views on this important development. Please take the time to review the above, and to give us your thoughts and inputs.
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New Edition of the Primary Healthcare Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List
It is with great pleasure that the Essential Drugs Programme brings you the Seventh Edition of the Primary Healthcare (PHC) Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) and Essential Medicines List (EML).
Access to safe, effective medicines has become more important than ever during the current COVID-19 pandemic, particularly at the PHC level where most patients access the health system. The National Essential Medicines List Committee (NEMLC), supported by the Affordable Medicines Directorate, has worked tirelessly to ensure that the highest standard of healthcare based on available budget is provided to all citizens. The NEMLC, its Expert Review Committees and all stakeholders who provided input into these guidelines are thanked for their valuable contributions. In addition, Mott MacDonald through the Better Health Programme, South Africa are acknowledged for their support of this initiative.
The seventh edition of the PHC Guidelines brings updates based on the latest scientific evidence in alignment with other new and updated guidelines. The PHC Guidelines form a robust base on which the newly consolidated PHC and Adult Hospital Review Committee will manage the continuum of care from PHC to Adult Hospital level. Review has been conducted following the same systematic process of medicine review but at a more expedited pace to ensure alignment and standard of care.
The PHC Guidelines contain the following changes:
- Updates to the therapeutic interchange database
- Algorithms for management of HIV
- Guidelines on the use of dolutegravir for HIV
- Guidance on the management of COVID-19 (ongoing review)
Circulation of the new PHC STGs and EML 2020 Edition widely to all relevant stakeholders for implementation is greatly appreciated.
The new PHC STGs are currently available on the below links:
- Knowledge Hub: https://www.knowledgehub.org.za/elibrary/primary-healthcare-phc-standard-treatment-guidelines-and-essential-medicines-list-south
- Ideal Clinic: https://www.idealhealthfacility.org.za/
- EMGuidance: http://onelink.to/sy896k
Update of the STGs is an ongoing process.
SAMA actively participates in the review processes for the EML Review and contribute to the identification of amendments and updates needed.
If you have challenges / queries about the current contents, please send these through to the Knowledge Management, Research and Ethics Department - shelleym@samedical.org
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GP Vaccine Rollout
Dear Family Practitioners
The UFFP is pleased to announce that the NDOH and the SAMRC have agreed to include GP’s in the phase 3B of the Johnson and Johnson Vaccine roll out.
These vaccines will be administered to General Practitioner over the next two Sundays on the 21st and 28th of February 2021.
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Euthanasia and Doctor-Assisted Suicide - What are your views?
The contentious issue of euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide (DAS) has once again received attention in the medical and legal communities.
An article published by MedicalBrief on the 10th of February 2021 reported that two patients, Dr. Suzanne Walter, a palliative care specialist, and her 71-year-old patient, Diethelm Harck will turn to the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg for a judgement to enact legalisation which would allow for euthanasia and/or doctor-assisted suicide. It has been reported that both Walter and Harck have been diagnosed with terminal diseases and that they would want to end their lives at the appropriate time.
Both life-ending practices are illegal in South Africa and while it not unlawful for any individual to end his or her life, there would be serious legal and ethical repercussions for Dr. Walter or any other medical professional who participates in euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide.
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) is aware of such dilemmas facing its members, and therefore SAMA will be conducting an anonymised survey to determine medical doctors’ perspective on Euthanasia and DAS, and to ascertain what your views are on legalising these practices in South Africa.
This will serve to inform the SAMA position on the issue going forward.
The survey will be conducted between 01 March – 01 April 2021.
This online survey will require about 15-20 minutes of your time.
During this time, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire on your perspectives regarding euthanasia and DAS and your view on legalising these practices in South Africa.
This survey is supported by the SAMA Human Rights, Law and Ethics (HRLE) Committee, and is approved by the South African Medical Association Research Ethics Committee (SAMAREC).
Ensure that your personal perspective and opinion is included on this highly controversial subject by participating in the online survey and completing a simple anonymised questionnaire.
Please keep an eye on your inbox for further details.
Questions or comments? Please contact the SAMA Knowledge, Management, Research and Ethics Department (KMRED) - Bioethics Researcher, Brandon Ferlito - brandonf@samedical.org
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VACCINATED HEALTH WORKERS URGE OTHER SOUTH AFRICANS TO GET COVID-19 VACCINE JAB
CAPE TOWN - Health workers who've received the first COVID-19 vaccinations in the country, have urged others to also take the jab. They were inoculated at Khayelitsha District Hospital on Wednesday.
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South Africa starts administering Janssen COVID-19 vaccine to health workers
South Africa has started administering the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine to health workers this week after the first doses arrived in the country. Meanwhile, J&J has submitted an application for Conditional Marketing Authorisation in the EU, following its application for EUA in the US.
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We have secured enough Covid-19 vaccines for everyone in South Africa who needs it: Mkhize
Health minister Dr Zweli Khize says that South Africa has managed to successfully secure nine million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, with the delivery of the first batch of 80,000 on course, and rollout due to begin this week.
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South Africa vaccine rollout seen slower after Astra setback
The start of the program was delayed this month after studies showed AstraZeneca Plc’s shot, the first to arrive in South Africa, provided little protection against mild forms of the disease caused by a variant of the virus identified late last year.
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South Africa reports 2,327 new COVID-19 cases
South Africa recorded 2,327 new coronavirus cases in a 24-hour period Thursday, bringing the number of confirmed infections in the country to 1,498,766, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced. Mkhize said 230 more deaths were also recorded, taking the total number of fatalities to 48,708.
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Hundreds of health workers' jobs at risk as Eastern Cape Covid-19 field hospital faces closure
The acclaimed Volkswagen SA sponsored Dr Elizabeth Mamisa Chabula-Nxiweni Field Hospital in Port Elizabeth faces closure and with it, hundreds of contract healthcare workers are losing their jobs.
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The ESSENTIAL MEDICAL REFERENCE
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SAMAREC
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The South African Medical Association - Postal Address-The South African Medical Association P O Box 74789,Lynnwood Ridge Pretoria 0040, South Africa
Physical address The South African Medical Association, Block F Castle Walk Corporate Park Nossob Street Erasmuskloof Ext3 Pretoria 0181, South Africa www.samedical.org
Other SAMA Services
SAMA Membership department
SAMA Committees
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