Getting the system to work
By Ufrieda Ho – Staff shortages remain a massive challenge for the public health service.
Rich province, poor health care
By Ufrieda Ho – In money terms, Gauteng’s health budget looks plump and healthy at R37,4 billion for the 2016-2017 financial year – R2.07 billion more than the previous financial year.
Where all that glitters is not gold
By Ufrieda Ho – Mineral-rich, prosperous, the glitter of gold – that’s supposed to be the promise of the towns the sit atop the ore-rich western fringe of Gauteng.
Return of the quacks
By Anso Thom – For a long time, South Africa has been a country where charlatans are able to flourish and peddle dangerous remedies for all kinds of ailments.
In good hands
By Ntsiki Mpulo – Eyes bulging, lips cracked, ribs clearly visible under taut skin; the man appears on the verge of taking his last breath.
Editorial: Three months to get it right
Delays at the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) has meant that the new NSP (National Strategic Plan) will now only be ready in March 2017. By Anso Thom and Marcus Low.
Community health workers: A Spotlight in-depth feature
The role of community health workers in the South African public healthcare system has been unclear and controversial. How many do we need? What exactly should their role be? Who should employ them? What should they be paid? Is there good evidence to inform policy? Sasha Stevenson of SECTION27 lead Spotlight’s in-depth investigation into these pressing questions.
No end to AIDS without the beginning of a new world
Open Letter to AIDS Activists across the Globe – By Mark Heywood
How do we get to zero TB?
By Salmaan Keshavjee – Tuberculosis (TB) has surpassed HIV/AIDS as the biggest infectious killer of adults worldwide. In 2015, an estimated 10.4 million people became sick with the disease – one million of whom were children – and 1.8 million people died.
TB: What the numbers tell us about political will
Marcus Low – Last month the annual Union World Conference on Lung Health was held in Liverpool, United Kingdom. As always at this conferences, much was said about how the world needs to step up the fight against tuberculosis (TB) – about how we need new agendas and paradigm shifts.
A new dawn for medicines regulation in South Africa
The MCC will soon be replaced by the South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA). Spotlight asked MCC registrar Dr Joey Gouws and MCC chairperson Professor Helen Rees about changes at South Africa’s medicines regulator.
Less money for TB research
By Mike Frick – The world spent less on tuberculosis (TB) research in 2015 than it did in 2009. This decrease in spending does not track a similar decline in TB incidence or mortality.