Six highlights from a week of important TB developments
This week researchers, policymakers and activists gathered in Hyderabad, India for the world’s leading TB conference. We picked six of the week’s most important stories.
NHLS picking up the pieces after R2.7bn in irregular spending
Irregular expenditure by the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) in the 2018/19 financial year totalled almost R2,7 billion – the biggest chunk of the R3,03 billion the National Department of Health and all its entities incurred the past financial year.
Spotlight on NHI: NHI Bill will divert SA from Universal Health Coverage if some groups are excluded
The latest version of the NHI Bill proposes limited access to health care services for population groups such as asylum seekers and undocumented migrants with serious implications for universal health coverage.
Long awaited regulations for Nursing training gazetted: Now what?
Regulations relating to the accreditation of postgraduate qualifications for nursing and the designated nursing colleges that will offer the new qualification, was gazetted last week while questions remain about the overall readiness of these colleges.
Eastern Cape announces R236m injection for mental health
The Eastern Cape Department of Health has announced that over R236 million has been allocated towards improving mental health facilities across the province for the next 3 years.
Right of reply: Strengthening public mental health services in South Africa
Yogan Pillay of the Department of Health responds to recent articles in Spotlight and Business day relating to mental health services in South Africa.
Analysis: SA secures good prices for TB medicines, with one exception
With one puzzling exception, South Africa’s new tender prices for tuberculosis medicines appear to compare well with the lowest international prices.
63 000 TB deaths in SA in 2018
A total of 63 000 people died of tuberculosis (TB) in South Africa in 2018, according to new figures released by the World Health Organization on Thursday.
Provinces not on same page regarding clinic committees
Information recently presented in parliament sheds light on how many clinic health committees there are in each province and how many members these committees have.
Shocking figures revive calls for mental health reforms
Some experts are calling for mental health reforms in South Africa following shocking figures presented in parliament and a new report on mental health spending.
Spotlight on NHI: Focus should be on building the public healthcare system
As a strategic purchaser the NHI should be expressly pro-public sector and strategically focus on building capacity in under resourced areas such as clinics and hospitals in poorer urban communities and in rural facilities, writes Dr Lydia Cairncross.
Spotlight on NHI: Why NHI should focus on cutting costs in the private sector first
The focus of NHI needs to shift from talking about fixing the public service first, to saving money first and especially in the private sector, argues John Ashmore.