#Vote4Health | What parties are putting on the table for healthcare in the Eastern Cape

#Vote4Health | What parties are putting on the table for healthcare in the Eastern Cape

Spotlight reached out to different political parties in the Eastern Cape to get their perspectives on how they plan to jack up healthcare in a province where thousands of people still have difficulty accessing healthcare. Only three parties responded. We zoom in on their views on crippled emergency medical services and ballooning medico-legal claims.

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#Vote4Health | Several political parties dodge questions on how they plan to improve health in Gauteng

#Vote4Health | Several political parties dodge questions on how they plan to improve health in Gauteng

What is at stake in South Africa’s upcoming provincial elections when it comes to healthcare? Ufrieda Ho put questions to five political parties about their plans to get Gauteng Health on track to better healthcare services after the polls. Only two parties responded .

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

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

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.

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From rural doctor to MP? “I hope to continue to serve”, says Dr Karl le Roux

From rural doctor to MP? “I hope to continue to serve”, says Dr Karl le Roux

Dr Karl le Roux, former chair of the Rural Doctors’ Association of South Africa, says the time has come for him to take his knowledge and experience to the national political arena. He is now hoping for a seat in parliament on the DA’s ticket. Sue Segar caught up with him.

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#InTheSpotlight | Diabetes is a leading killer in SA – yet we don’t know who has it or where they are

#InTheSpotlight | Diabetes is a leading killer in SA – yet we don’t know who has it or where they are

Diabetes is the second leading cause of death in South Africa after tuberculosis, according to Statistics South Africa. It is the leading cause of death in women. Yet, despite being a major driver of deaths and illness, we do not have a clear picture of how many people in the country have diabetes or how many people are receiving diabetes care. This leaves our health system ill-equipped to handle the growing diabetes crisis.

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Bob Mash | Three health reforms the new government must prioritise for SA

Bob Mash | Three health reforms the new government must prioritise for SA

To drum up support as South Africans head to the polls, President Cyril Ramaphosa reportedly vowed to “end the apartheid that remains in healthcare” when he hit the campaign trail. Professor Bob Mash has three health reforms on his wishlist for the incoming administration to prioritise.

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Health services in the Eastern Cape: What changed since the last elections?

Health services in the Eastern Cape: What changed since the last elections?

Luvuyo Mehlwana looks back at the performance of public healthcare services in the Eastern Cape over the last five years – a term characterised by leadership instability, infrastructure problems, financial short-falls, and of course the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Medical Waste: The curious case of a contract extended for 16 years

Medical Waste: The curious case of a contract extended for 16 years

The last time medical waste services in KwaZulu-Natal were delivered in terms of a standard non-extended, tender was 2003. With the cancelation of a recently advertised tender this highly irregular situation seems set to continue well into 2020.

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#Vote4Health: Health in the Northern Cape: Disturbing visions from SA’s forgotten province

#Vote4Health: Health in the Northern Cape: Disturbing visions from SA’s forgotten province

Health services in large parts of the Northern Cape have virtually collapsed with communities mostly being served by overstretched nurses struggling to cope with the disease and injury burden. The challenges are overwhelming. Spotlight travelled a circular route through the province and clocked up about 2 000 kilometres of mostly dirt and some tar road to take the temperature of South Africa’s largest province.

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