Unacceptably long wait for surgery in Free State, healthcare workers and patients say

Unacceptably long wait for surgery in Free State, healthcare workers and patients say

By Refilwe Mochoari,
Posted in: COVID-19, Free State, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

Surgical waiting lists are not unexpected in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are indications that the situation is particularly acute in the Free State, and possibly for reasons that are not directly related to the pandemic. Also, the department of health failed to offer any explanation or details of current surgery waiting lists and waiting times reported by healthcare workers and patients. Refilwe Mochoari reports.

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NORTH WEST HEALTH: The hits and misses of the section 100 intervention

NORTH WEST HEALTH: The hits and misses of the section 100 intervention

By Nthusang Lefafa,
Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

The North West Health Department was placed under administration in 2018 following several governance failures and allegations of fraud and corruption that resulted in widespread service delivery protests. Now, almost four years later as the period under administration is set to come to an end, Nthusang Lefafa asks what has improved under administration and what has not.

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COVID-19: What role for masks, sanitising, and ventilation in the new normal?

COVID-19: What role for masks, sanitising, and ventilation in the new normal?

By Aisha Abdool Karim,
Posted in: COVID-19, Latest

South Africa’s fifth wave of COVID-19 infections was comparatively small and is already abating. As with the fourth wave, infection was much less likely to result in hospitalisation or death than in the first three waves. In light of these changes in the pandemic, Aisha Abdool Karim asks what the “new normal” should look like when it comes to mask-wearing, ventilation, hand sanitising, and other preventive measures.

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COVID-19: Death risk in SA differed depending on where people were hospitalised

COVID-19: Death risk in SA differed depending on where people were hospitalised

By Adele Baleta,
Posted in: COVID-19, Latest

The risk of a hospitalised person dying from COVID-19 in the Eastern Cape was almost double the risk of someone dying of the disease in the Western Cape, according to a study published in the South African Journal of Science. Adele Baleta unpacks the study’s rich set of findings on hospitalisation and death in South Africa.

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NHI Lawmakers: Interview with FF Plus MP Philip van Staden

NHI Lawmakers: Interview with FF Plus MP Philip van Staden

By Biénne Huisman,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Latest, NHI

On being a member of Parliament, Philip van Staden from the Freedom Front Plus says he is living his childhood dream. Biénne Huisman spoke to him about his career in politics, his thoughts on national health insurance, his passion for the health portfolio, and his time as a member of the Gauteng Legislature after the Life Esidimeni tragedy.

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Positive signs for new TB testing strategy

Positive signs for new TB testing strategy

By Tiyese Jeranji,
Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, TB

Under a new tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis strategy, people considered to be at high risk of TB are offered molecular TB tests, even if they do not have any symptoms. A landmark study in 2020 showed that such a strategy can help diagnose more people more quickly. Now, early indications are that it also works in the real world and South Africa’s lab service says they can cope with the increased demand. Tiyese Jeranji reports.

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Intimate partner violence in SA – is it getting worse and how do we tackle it?

Intimate partner violence in SA – is it getting worse and how do we tackle it?

By Elsabé Brits,
Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Mental Health

A third or even up to half of women and girls in South Africa aged 15 and older have either experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence (IPV). Some experts say South Africa almost has a perfect storm of IPV drivers. Elsabé Brits unpacks some of the recent findings published in a landmark Lancet Psychiatry Commission on interpersonal violence and asks experts how we can address this in South Africa.

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INTERVIEW: “Guys, I think that’s a new variant” – de Oliveira reflects on two years chasing the virus

INTERVIEW: “Guys, I think that’s a new variant” – de Oliveira reflects on two years chasing the virus

By Biénne Huisman,
Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, Latest

South African bioinformatics expert Professor Tulio de Oliveira was recently honoured with Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people award. Biénne Huisman sat down with him to talk about his part in the discovery of new COVID-19 variants, his chats with the President, and the treasure trove of scientific research excellence in Africa.

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Opinion: The new health system we build through the NHI must be green

Opinion: The new health system we build through the NHI must be green

By Louis Reynolds,
Posted in: Spotlight

The recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape showed us how climate change harms people’s health and healthcare services. On the other hand, modern health care systems contribute to climate change through large greenhouse gas emissions. In the development of South Africa’s National Health Insurance system we have an opportunity to address both these sides of the challenge that climate change poses for health systems, argues Dr Louis Reynolds of the People’s Health Movement SA.

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ANALYSIS: NHI Bill – clause-by-clause headbutting begins in Parliament

ANALYSIS: NHI Bill – clause-by-clause headbutting begins in Parliament

By Alicestine October,
Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, NHI, Sections

In what is expected to become a verbal minefield littered with the usual ideological quips, the members of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health this week started the clause-by-clause deliberations on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill. Alicestine October assesses the first leg of the deliberations and issues set to pop up in the next round of deliberations, starting with clause 5 of the Bill next week.

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Over 3million people on new HIV drug, but not all smooth sailing

Over 3million people on new HIV drug, but not all smooth sailing

By Elri Voigt,
Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest

In 2019, the Department of Health started providing the antiretroviral drug dolutegravir as part of HIV treatment in the public sector. Three years later, close to 3.2 million people in South Africa are taking dolutegravir every day. Even so, the rollout of dolutegravir hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Elri Voigt investigates how the massive undertaking of switching millions of people to a new drug has gone.

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Lives depend on SA finding more stem cell donors

Lives depend on SA finding more stem cell donors

By Thabo Molelekwa,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Latest

Unathi Mtengwane from Zeerust in the North West needs a compatible stem cell donor for a transplant that could save his life. However, for some patients who can’t find a compatible donor the process can be arduous, expensive, and littered with legal barriers, writes Thabo Molelekwa.

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