Regulatory barriers to life-saving and affordable HCV medicines can be overcome
A new class of medicines called direct- acting antivirals have revolutionised the treatment of hepatitis C, but access in South Africa remains limited.
Donor shift threatens adherence clubs in the Free State
A shift in donor funding for HIV has endangered the continued existence of successful and effective antiretroviral adherence clubs in the Free State.
Stockout of Depo-Testosterone is life threatening
Depo-Testosterone, an affordable injectable hormone, has been out of stock in South Africa for more than three months. The shortage has been described as life-threatening. Karin Schimke reports.
System-wide neglect of the transgender population
The recent stock-out of a hormone used in gender-affirming treatment for transgender men has revealed a system-wide neglect of a large sector of the South African population. Karin Schimke reports.
Analysis: How a cutting edge medicine made it to SA’s new ARV tender
New medicines usually take many years or even decades to reach public sector patients in South Africa. One new HIV medicine is an exception.
Dolutegravir- why new does not automatically mean better
While the advantages of the new antiretroviral drug dolutegravir have been extensively reported, the potential disadvantages have received relatively little attention, says Dr Tom Boyles.
Let women decide whether they want to take dolutegravir
An important new antiretroviral medicine will soon become available to people living with HIV in various Sub-Saharan African countries. Unfortunately, many women might be denied access to this new drug due to an inability of regulators and health departments to see potential risks associated with the drug in the proper context.
AIDS2018: Reduction in price of bedaquiline welcome, but is it enough?
This week the price of bedaquiline in the public sector in South Africa was cut in half. What does this mean for the increased uptake of this critically important TB…
AIDS2018: Time to make AIDS political again
By Anele Yawa Two years ago, we welcomed the world to the International AIDS Conference [caption id="attachment_6568" align="alignright" width="300"] Anele Yawa at the Durban2016 march[/caption] in Durban, South Africa. At…
NHI Bill: Welcome but flawed
The People’s Health Movement South Africa (PHm-SA) are supportive of the principles that underpin the NHI, but they have several reservations about whether the NHI Bill can deliver universal health coverage. David Sanders & Louis Reynolds of PHM-SA explains.
8 key findings from new district health report
The Health Systems Trust last week published the latest edition of the District Health Barometer (DHB). The DHB provides a wealth of district, provincial and national level data on a wide variety of indicators. Below we have picked out eight interesting national-level findings.
Steps to consider when proving PrEP in higher-education institutions
1 October is set to become a memorable day in some higher-education institutions. It marks the day in 2017 that Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) was first rolled out at select campus health clinics as a new, highly effective HIV-prevention method.