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

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

Dramatic decline in condom distribution in SA, new figures show

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

Condom distribution in South Africa has dropped dramatically over the last five years, finds a Spotlight analysis of data recently published in the Health System Trust’s District Health Barometer.

Dramatic decline in condom distribution in SA, new figures show

Sobering moments at opening of SA AIDS Conference

Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest

The 11th South African AIDS Conference – the first since COVID-19-related disruptions – kicked off on Tuesday in Durban. This year’s theme is, “Act, Connect and End the Epidemic”. Spotlight summarises some key themes that emerged from the opening ceremony and spoke to some delegates.

Sobering moments at opening of SA AIDS Conference

First HIV prevention injection approved in SA

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has authorised an injection containing the antiretroviral cabotegravir for use to prevent HIV infection, according to drugmaker ViiV Healthcare. Laura Lopez Gonzalez reports.

First HIV prevention injection approved in SA

Opinion: Ending HIV/AIDS inequalities to achieve equity and end the epidemic

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

As we look at the year ahead, urgent work remains to build on past successes and to bring the HIV epidemic sustainably under control. Amongst others, we need to address persistent stigma and discrimination, as well as the structural and social factors that put women and girls at increased risk of HIV infection, argues Rachel Toku-Appiah.

Opinion: Ending HIV/AIDS inequalities to achieve equity and end the epidemic

Opinion: Engaging communities and young people in the HIV response

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

The AIDS2022 conference held recently in Montreal, Canada highlighted yet again the need for community activism and the importance of involving young people, writes Dr Yogan Pillay. He argues that the youth and communities must be engaged in the conceptualisation and writing of South Africa’s new AIDS plan, and young people and community-based organisations must have a central role in key aspects of its implementation.

Opinion: Engaging communities and young people in the HIV response

Interactive table: See how SA’s provinces compare on the 90-90-90 targets

Posted in: Edition 12: SA’s AIDS & TB response, Edition 9: State of HIV, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest

New estimates of HIV in South Africa’s provinces were made public last week. This interactive table shows how South Africa’s nine provinces compare on the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets.

Interactive table: See how SA’s provinces compare on the 90-90-90 targets

HIV death rate in SA men much higher than in women

Posted in: Edition 9: State of HIV, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest, Men's Health

While men account for only a third of South Africa’s roughly 200 000 new HIV infections in the year ending mid-2019, they account for more than half of the approximately 74 000 HIV-related deaths in the same period. This is according to new estimates released on Tuesday from the Thembisa mathematical model of HIV in South Africa.

HIV death rate in SA men much higher than in women

COVID-19: I want to be a part of the solution against coronavirus, says vaccine trialist.

Posted in: Spotlight

Timothy Lebelwane of Diepsloot is one of 2 000 people in South Africa participating in a COVID-19 vaccine trial spearheaded by Wits University. Biénne Huisman spoke to him about life as a participant in such an important vaccine trial.

COVID-19: I want to be a part of the solution against coronavirus, says vaccine trialist.

COVID-19: Patent victories from HIV fight are now more relevant than ever

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

Around the turn of the century developing countries fought for and won safeguards to promote access to medicines in international trade law. These safeguards are now being heralded by lawmakers around the world as critical legal mechanisms that nations can and must use in the fight against COVID-19, writes Catherine Tomlinson.

COVID-19: Patent victories from HIV fight are now more relevant than ever

Face to Face: Winde on HIV, Zille and tough choices

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest, NSP and SANAC, Provinces, Western Cape

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde is chairing the province’s AIDS council, something his predecessor Helen Zille did not do. Alicestine October sat down with Winde to discuss HIV, Zille and much more.

Face to Face: Winde on HIV, Zille and tough choices

OPINION: Fix our clinics, save our lives

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

We are not making a flippant statement or trying to cry wolf, but we have a crisis in our health system which will have a devastating impact if not addressed, writes three people involved with the new Ritshidze clinic monitoring initiative.