Competition law has again worked to fight a bad drug patent, but we need other solutions

By Fatima Hassan and Leena Menghaney, August 30, 2024

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Comment, Focus, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest, Spotlight, TB

A Competition Commission probe recently resulted in a patent on an important tuberculosis medicine being dropped in South Africa. Twenty years ago, a similar Competition Commission case resulted in a settlement that helped drive down the prices of several antiretrovirals, thereby helping to set the stage for the country’s HIV treatment programme. Fatima Hassan and Leena Menghaney connect the dots between the two landmark cases and map out what has and has not changed over the last two decades.

Competition law has again worked to fight a bad drug patent, but we need other solutions

Why we don’t have long-acting HIV treatment in South Africa

By Elri Voigt, August 12, 2024

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest

In South Africa, taking HIV treatment means taking one or more antiretroviral tablets a day. People in some other countries have the additional option of treatment in the form of two injections administered every two months. Elri Voigt unpacks why long-acting HIV treatment is not available in South Africa and asks why the push for HIV prevention jabs has been so much stronger than that for HIV treatment jabs.

Why we don’t have long-acting HIV treatment in South Africa

AIDS 2024: Exciting developments with the jabs promising to revolutionise HIV prevention

By Elri Voigt, July 29, 2024

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest

Taking antiretrovirals to prevent HIV infection mostly still involves swallowing one or more pills a day. Some long-acting products that work for a month or two at a time have been approved but are not yet in wide use in South Africa. As delegates gathered for the 25th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2024) last week, Elri Voigt takes stock of the latest developments in this fast-moving field.

AIDS 2024: Exciting developments with the jabs promising to revolutionise HIV prevention

Medicines stockouts persist in North West as tide turns slowly

By Nthusang Lefafa, July 25, 2024

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest, North West, Provinces, Spotlight, TB

Despite some improvement over the past three years, the North West province continues to experience medicine shortages, according to a survey by a community clinic monitoring initiative. Nthusang Lefafa unpacks the latest findings and asks why shortages persist in the province.

Medicines stockouts persist in North West as tide turns slowly

EDITORIAL | Motsoaledi’s return could work, but he needs a DG who can say “no minister”

By Marcus Low, July 3, 2024

Posted in: Comment, Editorial, Focus, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, HIV/AIDS, Latest, Spotlight

In some respects, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi was the right person for the job when he was appointed as South Africa’s Minister of Health in 2009. But in 2024, the healthcare context in the country looks very different. Spotlight editor Marcus Low asks what we might expect from this new chapter with Motsoaledi in the top health job.

EDITORIAL | Motsoaledi’s return could work, but he needs a DG who can say “no minister”

Twice-yearly HIV prevention shot succeeds in pivotal trial, but questions loom over future access

By Thabo Molelekwa and Marcus Low, July 1, 2024

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest

An HIV prevention injection that provides six months of protection per shot has been shown to be highly effective in a pivotal trial largely conducted in South Africa. There are however some concerns as to when the injection will become available and how widely. Thabo Molelekwa and Marcus Low report.

Twice-yearly HIV prevention shot succeeds in pivotal trial, but questions loom over future access

Why a major finding on HIV and statins may not be that relevant in SA

By Elri Voigt, June 18, 2024

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest, Spotlight

One of the biggest stories in HIV in the last year was that a class of medicines called statins could help reduce cardiovascular disease in people living with the virus. In response, treatment guidelines in the United States were quickly updated, but the picture is more complicated in South Africa. Spotlight’s Elri Voigt explores why the case for widespread use of statins by people living with HIV is less compelling in South Africa than in some other countries.

Why a major finding on HIV and statins may not be that relevant in SA

HIV treatment for kids has improved and there is more to come, says Dr Moherndran Archary

By Biénne Huisman, May 28, 2024

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Child health, Focus, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest, Spotlight

Dr Moherndran Archary’s research has helped shape South African health policy, most notably the rollout of better HIV treatments for children and babies. Spotlight’s Biénne Huisman chatted to him about the state of HIV treatment for kids and some exciting prospects on the horizon.

HIV treatment for kids has improved and there is more to come, says Dr Moherndran Archary

#Vote4Health | What 10 political parties have to say on Spotlight’s top 7 health questions

By Jesse Copelyn and Spotlight staff, May 14, 2024

Posted in: #Vote4Health, Access to Medicines, Focus, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest, Special Investigations

Healthcare is an issue that at some point touches everyone in South Africa. It is also an issue that will impact who people vote for on the 29th of May. To help voters understand just what parties are putting on the table when it comes to healthcare, Spotlight pin-pointed seven critical healthcare questions and put them to 10 political parties.

#Vote4Health | What 10 political parties have to say on Spotlight’s top 7 health questions

Chronic kidney disease rates have dropped in people with HIV, but late diagnosis remains a serious problem

By Elri Voigt, April 22, 2024

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest, Spotlight

Elri Voigt unpacks the complex effect that HIV has on the kidneys, how HIV and chronic kidney disease has evolved after the roll out of anti-retroviral treatment, and what the situation is now in the country for people living with HIV and chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease rates have dropped in people with HIV, but late diagnosis remains a serious problem

Widely used HIV drug in SA flagged for reports of resistance – but experts say don’t panic

By Elri Voigt, April 15, 2024

Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest

That HIV can develop resistance to the drugs used to treat it is nothing new, but results from recent studies reveal the emergence of resistance in subsets of people living with HIV to dolutegravir – an antiretroviral widely used in South Africa. Top HIV experts spoke to Elri Voigt about the new findings and what it means for people living with HIV in the country.

Widely used HIV drug in SA flagged for reports of resistance – but experts say don’t panic

One in four people with HIV not on treatment, according to new estimates

By Marcus Low, April 4, 2024

Posted in: Focus, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest

Despite South Africa’s impressive HIV testing figures, a subset of people started taking antiretroviral therapy far later than is ideal for their health, shows new data from the leading mathematical model of HIV in the country.

Tags: featured HIV