Analysis: Are NGOs doing the work of the state, and should they?

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest

People in South Africa are used to reports of organisations like Gift of the Givers stepping in during humanitarian emergencies, or service delivery NGOs assisting with HIV or tuberculosis programmes. But is there not a risk of the state becoming overly dependent on NGOs, and might this not mask state failure and thereby undermine democratic accountability? Sue Segar explores this question with the help of some high-profile NGO leaders.

Analysis: Are NGOs doing the work of the state, and should they?

In-depth: New screening programme planned for cystic fibrosis in SA

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Latest

In recent weeks, cystic fibrosis (CF) has been in the headlines because of a court case about access to new treatments for the genetic condition. After having reported on the court case, Catherine Tomlinson now unpacks how CF is diagnosed in South Africa and why so many cases here fall through the cracks. The good news, she reports, is that efforts are underway to establish a national infant screening programme.

In-depth: New screening programme planned for cystic fibrosis in SA

In-depth: Some improvement but much more needed to address health needs of key populations

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Edition 9: State of HIV, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest, LGBTI, Men's Health, Provinces, Reproductive Health, Sex Work, SRHR

Despite some improvement, the community-led monitoring group Ritshidze’s second report on key populations highlights that sex workers, people who use drugs and LGBTQIA+ community members are often still discriminated against when trying to access public health facilities. This can lead to treatment interruptions and some stopping their clinic visits. Nthusang Lefafa reports.

In-depth: Some improvement but much more needed to address health needs of key populations

Analysis: Why has the price of this cancer medicine risen and fallen by over a thousand percent since 2016?

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Latest

Lenalidomide is an important medicine used for the treatment of multiple myeloma – a type of bone marrow cancer that is not curable and typically requires long-term, ongoing treatment. Over the last decade, the price of this drug has fluctuated dramatically in South Africa and patients and their doctors have gone to extreme lengths to access it. Catherine Tomlinson unpacks the remarkable recent history of lenalidomide.

Analysis: Why has the price of this cancer medicine risen and fallen by over a thousand percent since 2016?

Why SA is not getting the new bivalent SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

Posted in: COVID-19, Latest

The Department of Health is not planning to buy the new COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccines, specifically tailored to target Omicron variants, anytime soon. Adele Baleta looks into the reasoning behind this decision.

Why SA is not getting the new bivalent SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

In-depth: Should SA invest in the latest HIV tests?

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest, Science

South Africa’s HIV testing programme has been a huge success over the last decade, largely due to the use of rapid tests. Now, the introduction of a new generation of rapid tests may offer some benefits over the current tests, but the picture is somewhat complicated and the Department of Health is not currently planning to use the new tests. Amy Green investigates.

In-depth: Should SA invest in the latest HIV tests?

In-Depth: As schools open, will measles outbreaks get worse?

Posted in: Child health, Healthcare system, Latest

Almost 400 cases of measles have been reported across five provinces over the last four months. The NICD has advised that clinicians should be on high alert, as the opening of schools may lead to localised outbreaks. Elri Voigt reports on the current state of the outbreak, the potential outcomes, and what is being done to curtail the spread of measles in the country.

In-Depth: As schools open, will measles outbreaks get worse?

OPINION: Health in 2023 – 13 things to look out for

Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest, Mental Health, Provinces, TB, TB

2023 is set to be another tumultuous year for healthcare services, health policy, and governance in South Africa. We’ve picked 13 things to look out for this year arranged under three broad headings: leadership and governance, policy and legislation, and HIV, TB and the NSP.

OPINION: Health in 2023 – 13 things to look out for

OPINION: 2022’s health budget decisions in review

Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest, TB

Health budgets have the power to advance access to healthcare for millions of people in South Africa. This year, however, as the health sector and the economy recovered from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic and a volatile global environment, the South African government missed opportunities to provide the financial resources to protect access to healthcare for the most vulnerable. Matshidiso Lencoasa unpacks how the past year’s budget choices will affect key public health services.

OPINION: 2022’s health budget decisions in review

Opinion: Living with a stoma in SA – we deserve better

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest

Our public health system is creating a new type of disability – ostomates who, with access to the necessary care and medical consumables could live long and fulfilled lives, but who every day are subjected to the indignities of inadequate care, writes colorectal cancer survivor and ostomate, Faizel Jacobs.

Opinion: Living with a stoma in SA – we deserve better

In-depth: The state of asthma in SA

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest

Asthma is a disease that can be easily controlled through the correct use of medications, yet in many low-and-middle-income countries like South Africa, many still die due to lack of effective management of this disease. According to estimates from the Global Asthma Report 2022, South Africa ranks third out of 28 low-and-middle-income countries for asthma-related mortality. Elri Voigt unpacks the state of asthma in the country.

In-depth: What should behaviour change efforts look like in the PrEP era?

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

HIV prevention pills are becoming more widely available in South Africa and the country is set to soon start piloting the use of an HIV prevention injection. But merely having these tools available in clinics and other places does not mean people will use them. Thabo Molelekwa asked several experts what behaviour change communications should look like in this new era of HIV prevention.