OPINION: The billions allocated for infrastructure require more progressive procurement systems and oversight

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, NHI

Spending on public sector infrastructure over the 2023 medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) is estimated at R903 billion and the health sector accounts for 5% of this. The well-documented poor maintenance and oversight of projects, also in the health sector, will require close monitoring of trends across the public sector, particularly where procurement and contracting is concerned, writes Zukiswa Kota.

OPINION: The billions allocated for infrastructure require more progressive procurement systems and oversight

What next after shortened TB treatment fails in key trial?

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, TB

The current treatment for drug-susceptible tuberculosis (TB) used in South Africa last for six months, effectively cures TB and is dirt cheap. Two studies in recent years have shown that TB can be cured in four or in some cases even two months, but price and other complications make these treatments tricky to implement. At a conference in Seattle last week, a major trial of an alternative four-month treatment reported disappointing findings. Elri Voigt unpacks the latest findings and asks what the prospects now are for shortening TB treatment.

What next after shortened TB treatment fails in key trial?

OPINION: Budget 2023 – opportunity missed to refocus public health spending?

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, NHI

Budgets, while important, are not the right mechanism to drive the structural change needed to improve the responsiveness of our public health system in meeting the needs of the population. But, argues Russel Rensburg, we can reorient the health system towards meeting the health needs of the population and then let the budget bolster the reforms. Here he provides some suggestions on how to go about it and contrasts that with the budget announced by Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana this week.

OPINION: Budget 2023 – opportunity missed to refocus public health spending?

Take as needed: Preventing HIV might one day be as easy as using this suppository

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

New research shows a quick-dissolving, rectal suppository designed to prevent HIV infection is safe, although its efficacy remains to be tested in clinical trials, some of which will be conducted in South Africa. Still, the findings released late Tuesday could herald the start of a new “take as needed” era in HIV prevention.

Take as needed: Preventing HIV might one day be as easy as using this suppository

Vaginal ring to prevent HIV safe to use in late pregnancy and while breastfeeding

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest, Science

A vaginal ring used to prevent HIV infection is safe to use during late pregnancy and while breastfeeding, according to findings presented at a major international HIV conference in Seattle in the United States. The news comes as South Africa prepares for a likely national rollout of the ring and as more research confirms the safety of an HIV prevention pill during pregnancy. It is estimated that offering these products to pregnant and breastfeeding women could avert up to 136 000 new infections in roughly the next decade. Laura Lopez Gonzalez reports.

Vaginal ring to prevent HIV safe to use in late pregnancy and while breastfeeding

Disproportionate number of children in SA have severe asthma, experts say

Posted in: Child health, Latest

In South Africa we see a disproportionate number of children with severe asthma and as the prevalence of asthma has risen over the years, so did the severity. Data now suggests although prevalence is still high in children, it may be stabilising. However, problems with asthma control, under-diagnosis, and incorrect use of medicine remain. Elri Voigt investigates.

Disproportionate number of children in SA have severe asthma, experts say

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

OPINION: NHI Bill must still clear many hurdles to ensure adequate medicine access

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, NHI

The Health Department’s recent response to submissions and its own recommendations on amendments to the National Health Insurance Bill sadly does not realise the gravity of the threat to the future of medicine selection and access. As the Bill currently stands, it will leave us at the mercy of advisory committees that bear no duty to be transparent in deciding which medicines people will be able to access under NHI, the authors argue.

OPINION: NHI Bill must still clear many hurdles to ensure adequate medicine access

What’s the deal with viral variants when it comes to HIV?

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest, Science

A study published last year on an HIV variant that has been circulating in the Netherlands for the last 20 years reminded the public of the existence of viral variants beyond SARS-CoV-2. Elri Voigt unpacks what we know about the HI-virus, its variants, and the study’s findings.

What’s the deal with viral variants when it comes to HIV?

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?

R27m needed to get Eastern Cape EMS plan off the ground

Posted in: Eastern Cape, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

In October last year, Eastern Cape Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth announced a three-phase plan to address key challenges with the province’s emergency medical services. Siyabonga Kamnqa visited All Saints Hospital in Ngcobo – one of the 28 priority hospitals targeted in the plan to see what progress has been made.

R27m needed to get Eastern Cape EMS plan off the ground

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.