Back To Blog
Women in Health: Dr Angela Hartwig – a torchbearer for rural health

Women in Health: Dr Angela Hartwig – a torchbearer for rural health

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

At one stage during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Angela Hartwig was the only doctor at Adelaide Hospital in the Eastern Cape. She also fell ill while pregnant and working, and ended up in a COVID-ward. Despite the challenges the pandemic dished out to health facilities and health workers, especially in rural areas like Adelaide, she remains passionate about rural health. Bienne Huisman spoke to her as part of Spotlight’s Women in Health series.

Read More

Tags:
Clinics hit hard by water shortages in Nelson Mandela Bay

Clinics hit hard by water shortages in Nelson Mandela Bay

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

The Nelson Mandela Bay metro in the Eastern Cape is in the grips of a severe drought. Public health facilities in the metro have been hit hard with some having to close or reduce the number of people they attend to. Authorities say measures are in place to prevent a complete standstill. Luvuyo Mehlwana reports.

Read More

Tags:
Analysis: What will a new turnaround plan mean for Kimberley Hospital?

Analysis: What will a new turnaround plan mean for Kimberley Hospital?

By Refilwe Mochoari and Alicestine October,
Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Northern Cape, Provinces

Northern Cape Health MEC Marupeng Lekwene and the CEO of the Robert Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley recently launched a turnaround plan to address a litany of challenges at the province’s only tertiary hospital. Refilwe Mochoari and Alicestine October combed through departmental reports and speeches and spoke to several health stakeholders to assess the new plan.

Read More

Tags:
#WhatItsLike: Helping cancer patients navigate the public healthcare system in Gauteng

#WhatItsLike: Helping cancer patients navigate the public healthcare system in Gauteng

By Ufrieda Ho,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Gauteng, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

A cancer patient navigator’s work days can be filled with both hope and hell, but their role can make all the difference when someone receives what can be the most devastating news of their lives. Ufrieda Ho spent some time with a cancer patient navigator for a glimpse of what it takes to do this job.

Read More

Tags:
Differing views on Gauteng’s new health information system

Differing views on Gauteng’s new health information system

By Thabo Molelekwa,
Posted in: Gauteng, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

In January, the computer system at the George Mukhari Hospital broke down with serious implications for patient care. In an effort to improve service delivery and the quality of healthcare services, the Gauteng Department of Health in 2020, announced that it would be upgrading its information technology system. Thabo Molelekwa looked at the progress of the new system in light of the ongoing challenges at the George Mukhari Hospital.

Read More

Tags:
2 Comments
COVID-19 blamed for shortcomings of ‘ideal clinics’ in Free State  

COVID-19 blamed for shortcomings of ‘ideal clinics’ in Free State  

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

There are 83 clinics – down from 153 in 2018/19 – in the Free State with Ideal Clinic status, meaning they have adequate staff, infrastructure, and medicines, among others. For many primary health facilities, this accreditation status is crucial for the National Health Insurance, however, some of these ideal clinics still have various shortcomings. Refilwe Mochoari reports.  

Read More

Tags:
Open Letter: Dr Mokgethi, you must act to address Gauteng’s oncology challenges

Open Letter: Dr Mokgethi, you must act to address Gauteng’s oncology challenges

By Warren Potter,
Posted in: Gauteng, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

For many cancer activists, cancer patients, and their families the radiation oncology challenges in Gauteng have reached a crisis point. Many believe this oncology crisis is allowed to escalate in the absence of tangible proactive action by the Gauteng government. In this case, no news is not good news, writes Warren Potter as he asks Gauteng Health MEC, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi for answers.

Read More

Tags:
Report finds some improvement at Mpumalanga clinics, but serious challenges remain

Report finds some improvement at Mpumalanga clinics, but serious challenges remain

By Nthusang Lefafa,
Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, HIV/AIDS, Latest, Mpumalanga, Provinces

The community-led clinic monitoring project, Ritshidze last week, released its follow-up report on the state of (primary) healthcare in Mpumalanga. There were some improvements, but patients are still waiting over four hours to be seen at some clinics. Nthusang Lefafa unpacks some of the report’s findings and asked the health department about its plans to address these shortcomings.

Read More

Tags:
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.

Read More

Tags:
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.

Read More

Tags:
Opinion: Gauteng health in flames – making it through the fires and fumbles of SA’s richest province

Opinion: Gauteng health in flames – making it through the fires and fumbles of SA’s richest province

By Sasha Stevenson,
Posted in: Gauteng, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

Gauteng is a province of immense potential and tragic recent history. It is a province that has allowed politics to overwhelm the interests of patients, argues Sasha Stevenson in a talk delivered as part of a lecture series hosted by the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics at Wits University.

Read More

Tags:
Gauteng Health: Has a damning Public Protector report had any impact?

Gauteng Health: Has a damning Public Protector report had any impact?

By Thabo Molelekwa,
Posted in: Gauteng, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

After visiting several hospitals in Gauteng in 2020, the Public Protector found that the Gauteng health department has failed to ensure appropriate conditions for the enjoyment and delivery of healthcare services for Gauteng residents. Ahead of the Gauteng health budget vote speech this week, Thabo Molelekwa looked at what has changed after the Public Protector’s recommendations and asked health experts what it will take to improve public healthcare services in the province.

Read More

Tags:
1 … 13 14 15 16 17 … 37