EC mental health unit needs facelift, says PSC
In a report released today, the Public Service Commission has described seclusion rooms at an Eastern Cape mental health unit as akin to “apartheid secluded prison cells”.
Ailing health system in spotlight at OR Tambo NHI public hearing
Residents of the OR Tambo District in the Eastern Cape were mostly in favour of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill at a public hearing in Mthatha, but raised questions on how it will solve problems in the Eastern Cape’s ailing health system, especially in rural areas.
NHI Bill could be law by August
If all goes according to plan the NHI Bill may just be on the President’s desk to be signed into law by July or August next year, according to portfolio committee chair Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.
New UNAIDS head visits Soshanguve
The new Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima was in Soshanguve, a township north of Pretoria, on Friday for a clinic visit, a town hall engagement with the local community, and to partake in activities of a new clinic monitoring project.
Timeline: Moments in the history of HIV
Spotlight compiled a timeline of key moments in the world’s and South Africa’s fight against HIV.
In graphics: Will South Africa meet UNAIDS’s HIV targets for 2020?
Is South Africa on course to meet UNAIDS’s HIV targets set for 2020? These four graphs track our progress.
ARVs on campus at CPUT: Is it working?
A new HIV programme was launched at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology earlier this year. Spotlight intern Liviwe Finca went to see how well the programme is working.
ANALYSIS: The number one challenge in our HIV response
What is the state of South Africa’s HIV response on World AIDS Day 2019? Marcus Low asks the question and identifies our number one problem in combatting the virus as we head into 2020.
Spotlight on NHI: Broad support for Bill at KZN hearings
The parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health has wrapped-up the KwaZulu-Natal leg of its public hearings on the NHI Bill. While there was broad support for the Bill, a few people did express reservations.
Caveat emptor: Seven things every patient should know about switching from efavirenz to dolutegravir
A new antiretroviral medicine called dolutegravir is about to be introduced in the public healthcare system. Dr Tom Boyles outlines seven things people may want to consider before switching to the new drug.
NHI Lawmakers: On Godly callings and steering the NHI Bill – Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.
ANC veteran Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo is chairperson of the National Assembly’s Portfolio Committee on Health and will play a pivotal role in deliberations over the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill. The question is – will it be about serving the people or toeing the party-line?
Wastage and negligence hamstrung health services
The Auditor-General (AG) this week once again in his audit report on national and provincial departments painted a bleak picture of wastage and brazen negligence in the public sector. Mismanaged funds in health departments are of particular concern.