Assessing Dr Zweli Mkhize’s two years as Health Minister

Assessing Dr Zweli Mkhize’s two years as Health Minister

By Marcus Low,
Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, Latest

Last night President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that Dr Zweli Mkhize had resigned as South Africa’s Minister of Health after eight weeks on special leave. Although Mkhize will primarily be remembered for the Digital Vibes scandal that caused his downfall, a lot more happened over the last two years. Spotlight editor Marcus Low asks what we can learn from Mkhize’s time as health minister and tries to make sense of some of the contradictions.

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COVID-19 and HIV: What we can learn from a new WHO report

COVID-19 and HIV: What we can learn from a new WHO report

By Laura Owings,
Posted in: COVID-19, HIV, Latest

The risk of developing severe or fatal COVID-19 is 30% greater in people living with HIV compared to those who are HIV negative, according to a new report from the World Health Organization. Comprised of data from 37 countries, including South Africa, the report suggests people living with HIV should be prioritised for vaccination. Laura Owings reports.

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Blow to Health Professions Council as new registrar faces serious charges

Blow to Health Professions Council as new registrar faces serious charges

By Ufrieda Ho,
Posted in: Free State, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

The already battered image of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has taken another blow with its recently appointed registrar Dr David Motau this week appearing in court in connection with alleged corrupt payments amounting to R8.7 million relating to his time as head of the Free State Health Department. Ufrieda Ho reports.

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What they say: Community perspectives on health services in the Eastern Cape

What they say: Community perspectives on health services in the Eastern Cape

By Luvuyo Mehlwana,
Posted in: Eastern Cape, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

After making damning findings on the conditions of some Eastern Cape Hospitals, the Deputy Public Protector recommended several changes the provincial health department had to implement within 60 days. The report was published on 30 June this year. Halfway through the 60 days, people still have mixed feelings about their hospital visits and the provincial health department has little to say about what they’ve done to implement the recommended changes.

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In-depth: SA’s perennial problems with placing community service doctors

In-depth: SA’s perennial problems with placing community service doctors

By Elna Schütz,
Posted in: Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest

Troubles regarding the placement of community service doctors have made headlines once again this year, as it seems to do most years. The structural roots of these problems are long-standing and complex. Elna Schütz unpacks the complexities and talks to role-players about possible solutions.

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COVID-19: Crisp on the challenges with SA’s vaccine rollout

COVID-19: Crisp on the challenges with SA’s vaccine rollout

By Chris Bateman,
Posted in: COVID-19, Latest

Dr Nicholas Crisp is a deputy director-general in the National Department of Health and the person responsible for coordinating South Africa’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Crisp spoke to Chris Bateman about challenges with the rollout and his wife and daughters getting sick with COVID-19.

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COVID-19: Jabs for most pregnant women more than a month away

COVID-19: Jabs for most pregnant women more than a month away

By Chris Bateman,
Posted in: COVID-19, Latest

Most pregnant women in South Africa will have to wait at least another month for a potentially life-saving COVID-19 jab. Chris Bateman takes a look at what we do and do not know about COVID-19 and its impact on pregnant women or those planning to get pregnant, and when it is safest for such women to get vaccinated.

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Efforts to vaccinate the homeless stumbling over red tape

Efforts to vaccinate the homeless stumbling over red tape

By Siyabonga Kamnqa,
Posted in: COVID-19, Latest

South Africa’s COVID-19 vaccination programme currently requires that people enter an identity number when registering on government’s electronic system and present an identity document when they go to get jabbed. This makes it hard for homeless people without IDs to get vaccinated. Siyabonga Kamnqa reports from the streets of Cape Town.

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In-depth: SA pharmacists will soon be able to prescribe HIV treatment

In-depth: SA pharmacists will soon be able to prescribe HIV treatment

By Catherine Tomlinson,
Posted in: HIV, Latest

In what Spotlight understands to be a world-first, South Africa is on the brink of allowing pharmacists with the required permits to prescribe HIV medicines without people first having to get a script from a doctor or nurse. Catherine Tomlinson investigates how it will work and why it may be just the boost the country’s HIV response needs.

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Important TB drug as effective at lower dose, study finds

Important TB drug as effective at lower dose, study finds

By Tiyese Jeranji and Marcus Low,
Posted in: Edition 10: Drug-resistant TB, Edition 7: TB, Latest, TB

The treatment of drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis has been transformed over the last decade with treatment becoming more effective, safer, and treatment duration in many cases dropping to under a year. Even so, treatment can still come with serious side effects and for some, it can still last over a year and a half. In a finding that may help further reduce side effects, new research has found that the dosage of a key drug can be lowered without compromising how well it works. Tiyese Jeranji and Marcus Low report.

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OPINION: Community-Led Monitoring Dashboard Reveals the Crisis in SA’s Clinics

OPINION: Community-Led Monitoring Dashboard Reveals the Crisis in SA’s Clinics

By Ndivhuwo Rambau, Sibongile Tshabalala and Brian Honermann,
Posted in: Edition 11: National Health Laboratory Service, Edition 9: State of HIV, Healthcare system, Latest

Data collected by the Ritshidze community-led healthcare monitoring project is now being shared through a new, publicly accessible online dashboard. Authors involved with the project explain the kinds of insights this rich new data source can give on healthcare services in South Africa.

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OPINION: Going Local in Health Innovation – It is time and we are ready

OPINION: Going Local in Health Innovation – It is time and we are ready

By Professor Kelly Chibale,
Posted in: COVID-19, Latest

The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need to think global and build locally. The African innovative pharmaceutical sector has the potential to thrive and needs more incentive to grow. A blooming continental sector would serve as a critical and secure source for key vaccines and therapeutics, reducing the need to rely on the goodwill of donors, writes Professor Kelly Chibale.

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