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Comprehensive review of cancer care
Press Release: Cancer Alliance, the advocacy collective for South Africa’s leading cancer organisation, has welcomed the publication of the Health Systems Trust’s review on Strengthening Cancer Services[MH1] in South Africa. “The Cancer Alliance has been...
Implications of Constitutional guarantees
https://youtu.be/ReiEArStAI4 A seminar was hosted by the Cancer Alliance and Cansa on Thursday October 6, 2022. Titled Unpacking the Implications of Constitutional Guarantees on the Right to Health for Cancer Patients, it was facilitated by Sibongile Tshabalala,...
SA’S MEDICINE PATENT LAWS MUST BE CHANGED
– INTERVIEW SALOME MEYER https://youtu.be/IygOCleU1Z4 SABC TV interviewed Salome Meyer from the Cancer Alliance on the problems around the cost of cancer medications, particularly Herceptin (trastuzumab), an important drug used for certain types of breast...
Gauteng’s Oncology Crisis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6KaJ6q2-p4 It’s a story often repeated in South Africa’s neglected public healthcare system: old equipment, untrained staff, and a general lack of resources. In Gauteng, it’s a story that’s grown to reveal an unprecedented level of...
#CancerlivesMatter!
Breast Health Foundation Near not Far - Sharlotte 2021 Why must Cancer Alliance members intervene to ensure that women in Limpopo are treated for breast cancer? Our failing healthcare system is a death sentence. We demand equal health care for all!...
COVID and Cancer – the way forward.
CANCER ALLIANCE WRITES TO THE MINISTER OF HEALTH COVID-19 is becoming is now our new normal. For many cancer patients and their families the reality is that they have an added challenge to face as they will become part of the group of people that are classified as "at...
CANCER SERVICES UNDER THREAT IN SOUTH AFRICA
National Department of Health is silent on the cancer crisis! Cervical Cancer Patient Story - Ziphora Ziphora Tau, 56, is a mother of two from the North West who is currently living in Vogelstruisfontein with her daughter and grandchild. In September 2019, she was...
Cancer Care Crisis
South Africa is facing a #CancerCareCrisis. Cancer care is a basic human right, but Tina passed away in December because Baragwanath Hospital did not have the drip medicine that was making her better. Read Tina's story. As Ziphora experienced, machines...
Cancer Care Crisis
South Africa is facing a #CancerCareCrisis. Cancer care is a basic human right, but Tina passed away in December because Baragwanath Hospital did not have the drip medicine that was making her better. Read Tina’s story. As Ziphora experienced, machines aren’t working and she is not getting the #palliative care…
TIMELINE OF ACCESS TO TRASTUZUMAB IN SOUTH AFRICA
People are dying because big pharmaceutical companies like Roche are doing everything possible to exploit any loopholes which enable the sale of life-saving medicine for obscene profits. This timeline of Trastuzumab—a breast cancer medicine developed through public and private funding many decades ago—tells the story of the long and ongoing…
WHY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY REFORM IN SOUTH AFRICA WILL HELP NOT HURT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN THE COUNTRY
Sensible reforms to South Africa’s patent laws will not harm the economy or inhibit domestic innovation. To the contrary, in this paper we provide evidence that sensible reforms can both stimulate the economy and bolster innovation – all while improving the access that people living in South Africa have to…
MAVERICK CITIZEN: HEALTH Dying for Treatment: The struggle for affordable breast cancer medicines in South Africa
Across the world, October is marked as breast cancer month. It is an opportunity to create awareness, educate people and provide support for breast cancer survivors and those close to them. In South Africa, more than 10 dedicated breast cancer organisations do their bit. No other single cancer in South…
Cancer Alliance publishes the first
fact sheet on biosimilars in South Africa
Biosimilars are pharmaceutical products that are almost identical copies of existing medicines. Cancer Alliance publishes the first fact sheet on biosimilars in South Africa. The approval and availability of biosimilars will influence access and affordability of lifesaving medicines. Patients, clinicians and funders need to informed about these new opportunities to ensure that patients always have…
SANCDA LETTER AND REPORT TO MINISTER OF HEALTH
Letter and Report to the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, from the South African Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance Please download and read the following two important documents: Letter to the new Minister of Health requesting urgent consultation and proposing important interventions in support of transition consistent with the SDGs and…
BREAST CANCER FACT SHEETS
Download the following Fact Sheets: https://canceralliance.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Breast-Cancer-Symptoms-Fact-Sheet-V0.pdf https://canceralliance.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Breast-Cancer-Risk-Factors-Fact-Sheet-V0.pdf
PATIENT STORY: RETHA WESSELS
RETHA WESSELS, 57DIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLE MYELOMA “I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in April 2012, and in November applied to my medical scheme for a stem cell transplant. They indicated that I first required chemotherapy treatment with a co-payment of about R40,000. After complying, stem cell treatment coverage was approved…
SUE JOHNSON SPEAKS ABOUT MULTIPLE MYELOMA AND LENALIDOMIDE
Sue Johnson and Lenalidomide Sue Johnson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and with Multiple Myeloma in 2014. While she was initially able to access a generic lenalidomide treatment from India on a Section 21 authorisation from the Medicines Control Council at a price of about R5000 per month,…
PATIENT STORY: JAYNE HEWISON
Jayne Hewison, diagnosed with multiple myeloma I am an 8 year survivor of Multiple Myeloma, an as-yet incurable cancer of the blood. I’ve had 2 stem cell transplants and don’t have much alternative to treatment with lenalidomide. Towards the end of 2016, while being treated in Kwazulu Natal by a…
PATIENT STORY: GRANT DAVIES
Grant Davies, diagnosed with multiple myeloma In April 2014, I was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma. I was 43 at the time, a husband, and father to a 5 year old. My treatment included radiation, chemotherapy, and two stem cell transplants. I had a good response,…
PATIENT STORY: VENO GOVENDER
Veno Govender, diagnosed with multiple myeloma My name is Veno Govender. I’m from South Africa in the city of Cape Town. A plasmacytoma was found in my right humerus in December 2016. Since then I have had a humerus replacement, Chemo and a SCT Further to that upon all the…
PATIENT STORY: TEBOHO SHAI
Teboho Shai, diagnosed with multiple myeloma I was diagnosed with stage 3 B Multiple Myeloma at age 57 in April 2016 and consequently became paralysed. At the time I was living in Pretoria self employed as a consultant. I am married to Veliswa and I’m a proud father of 6…
MOTIVATION FOR: PROMPT APPROVAL OF TRASTUZUMAB BIOSIMILARS TO PROMOTE COMPETITION IN THE MARKET
17 July 2019: Cancer Alliance submits a motivation to SAHPRA for the prompt approval of trastuzumab biosimilars to promote competition in the market. The Cancer Alliance of South Africa submits this memorandum in support of its request that SAHPRA promptly register biosimilars of the breast cancer medicine trastuzumab for which…
LAUNCHING THE CAMPAIGN FOR ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE LENALIDOMIDE
Minister Mkhize must ensure access to cancer medicine that WHO now considers “essential” Johannesburg (9 July 2019) — It was announced today that lenalidomide, a lifesaving medicine to treat multiple myeloma, has been included on the latest edition of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Essential Medicines List (EML). Welcoming the…
SANCDA LETTER AND REPORT TO MINISTER OF HEALTH – JUNE 2019
Letter and Report to the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, from the South African Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance Please download and read the following two important documents: Letter to the new Minister of Health requesting urgent consultation and proposing important interventions in support of transition consistent with the SDGs and…
CANCER ALLIANCE PUBLISHES SECTION 4 OF THE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT ON THE NEW BREAST CANCER POLICY: TREATMENT & PALLIATIVE CARE
Breast Cancer Control Policy 2017 25th February 2019 The Cancer Alliance today publishes the fourth and final part of its series on the Breast Cancer Control Policy with Section 4: Treatment & Palliative Care South Africa’s new Breast Cancer Control Policy is a vital document aimed at prioritising breast cancer…
CANCER ALLIANCE CALLS FOR AFFORDABLE LENALIDOMIDE
Cancer Alliance calls for access to affordable lenalidomide for public and private sector patients in South Africa EMBARGOED UNTIL FRIDAY FEBRUARY 15 Many cancer patients in South Africa do not have access to affordable cancer medicines – many of which are available in other countries at a fraction of the…
CANCER ALLIANCE PUBLISHES SECTION 3 OF THE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT ON THE NEW BREAST CANCER POLICY: ACCESS TO CARE
Breast Cancer Control Policy 2017 14th December 2018 The Cancer Alliance today publishes the third part of its series on the Breast Cancer Control Policy with Section 3: Access to Care. South Africa’s new Breast Cancer Control Policy is a vital document aimed at prioritising breast cancer awareness, prevention, treatment…
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