South African Medical Association

SAMA Weekly Newsletter | 15 January 2021

 

 

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Invitation to Comment: COVID-19 Draft National Standard Treatment Guidelines
(primary and hospital level of care)

Dear SAMA members

As per our SAMA processes, we make an effort to give input to the National Standard Treatment Guidelines and to encourage our members to participate in the commentary processes.

In December 2020, the National Department has issued amendments to the Primary care and Hospital care Guidelines and Essential medicines List to formally include COVID-19 in the Infections Chapters and to include specific recommendations for COVID-19 in pregnancy in the obstetrics chapter.

Comments are due to the Department of Health by 15 February 2020.

SAMA is inviting comments from the broader membership, given the importance of this issue at the moment, and given that the STGs and EML impact on what is considered PMB level of care for COVID-19 in the private sector.

The following amended chapters are attached:

  • Primary Health Care infections Chapter (PHC10)- COVID-19 recommendations included - the only recommended medicine treatment is paracetamol
  • Hospital infections Chapter (AHChap9_Infections) - Heparins and steroids with alternative recommendations for dexamethasone in pregnancy where appropriate
  • Hospital Obstetrics Chapter (AHChap6_Obsterics) - recommendations for thromboprophylaxis and pain and fever management in pregnancy

Additionally the following reviews have been included for information:

  • Full report of the Considerations of the National Essential medicines List Committee for hospitalised patients (NEMLC Report)
  • An evidence review of the management of glucose in patients with COVID-19 (NDoH EDP Glucose Control)
  • 3 rapid reviews of evidence of medication use in COVID-19 hospitalised patients: corticosteroids (recommended); mucolytics (not recommended) and Heparin dosing for COVID-19.

Additional rapid reviews of several potential treatment options, by the Essential Medicines List Committee are available on the Department of Health website at:
http://www.health.gov.za/covid-19-rapid-reviews/

SAMA will be submitting comments in response to these documents, if comments are warranted.

We would appreciate any comments / additions / changes which are evidence-based and appropriate by Monday 1 February to allow some time to fact check and collate the comments and recommendations made prior to final submission.

Comments and inputs for SAMA can be sent to KMRED through Shelley McGee - shelleym@samedical.org

Comments can also be sent directly to the NEMLC coordinator
Trudy Leong
E-mail: trudy.leong@health.gov.za

Kind Regards
The SAMA Knowledge Management, Research and Ethics Team.

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Extension is welcomed; vaccine roll-out must be fast-tracked - SAMA

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) welcomes the extension of the Level 3 lockdown restrictions announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last night (11 Jan) but says concerns remain about certain of its provisions.

“We noted last week that returning to Level 5 would be counter-productive, and that more focus on the current restrictions is a better way forward. The tightening of the curfew hours and the closing of borders (which are undoubtedly hotspot areas) are both good moves but the large number of people still allowed at funerals – which are super spreader events – remains a concern. We would have preferred this to be reduced to a maximum of 20 people,” says Dr Angelique Coetzee, Chairperson of SAMA.

Dr Coetzee says the well-being of all healthcare workers must remain a priority for the government and that the planned roll-out of 1.5 million vaccines to these frontline workers is to be applauded as a bold step to begin dealing effectively with the pandemic.

“The acquisition of these vaccines will provide a much needed barrier to those frontline workers who risk their lives caring for others. The strategy to deploy the initial vaccines to healthcare workers is necessary as it will protect those whose job it is to protect others. It’s critical now that more vaccines are secured as quickly as possible so all South Africans are equally covered,” says Dr Coetzee.

In his address President Ramaphosa noted that the government is busy in negotiations to secure a further 20 million vaccine doses and that details of these negotiations would be made public once they have concluded.

Dr Coetzee says finalising the negotiations and making the details of the deals public is an important next step. “For healthcare workers who are struggling to cope with exhaustion and an unrelenting tide of new patients daily this is certainly good news. We eagerly await finalisation of this – and other negotiations – on vaccine procurements as vaccinations are a critical and necessary step towards overcoming COVID-19. We cannot stress enough the importance of speed in this process,” says Dr Coetzee.

SAMA says it will continue working with the government and other role players nationally and in the provinces to ensure an effective roll-out of the vaccine, particularly to private sector healthcare workers.

[ENDS]

 

 
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Record number of South Africans died in first week of 2021

South Africa had a record 10,907 excess deaths from natural causes in the week of 30 December to 5 January, according to the 11 January mortality surveillance report from the Burden of Disease Research Unit at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).
In total, 20,063 people died in one week.

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South Africa aims to ‘close’ all vaccine deals in the next month

South Africa’s health department expects to finalize accords to buy millions of additional coronavirus vaccines within about a month and has agreed on an expedited payment process with the National Treasury to avoid delays in delivery.

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Covid-19: Doctor worried over claims untrained nurses are working in ICU wards

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) says it is concerned about reports that, during the Covid-19 pandemic, medical staff were being employed at care levels they did not have experience in.

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SA seemed the best equipped African country for Covid-19 till a new variant started spreading

The coronavirus pandemic in South Africa has reached a record new level driven by the more infectious novel Covid-19 variant—the 501YV2—discovered in the country on Dec. 19 and now set to be the dominant variant, according to local scientists.

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Number of new SA Covid-19 cases stays on 18 000 mark

The cumulative number of Covid-19 cases now stands at 1 296 806, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in a statement on Thursday. A total of 18 555 new cases were reported yesterday, after 13 105 new cases were reported on Tuesday. This follows a peak of 21 862 last Friday.

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3 reasons why a negative Covid-19 test doesn't necessarily mean you're not infected

While testing is critical to containing the outbreak, a negative test result is not a free pass to forgo social distancing, mask-wearing and large gatherings.

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https://youtu.be/2XVj_Dy9Nxc
 
 
 
 
 
 
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