In-depth: Landmark survey of key populations confirms scale of problems

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Edition 8: NSP in general, Edition 9: State of HIV, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, HIV/AIDS, Latest, LGBTI, NSP and SANAC, Sex Work, SRHR

People who belong to key populations, such as men who have sex with men, often report that it is difficult for them to access health services – for example, due to negative healthcare worker attitudes. Now, a large survey published last week by community healthcare monitoring group Ritshidze provides important statistics that not only confirm that such experiences are widespread but also help in pinning down some specific issues. Tiyese Jeranji reports.

In-depth: Landmark survey of key populations confirms scale of problems

Experts unpack cabinet’s easing of restrictions

Posted in: Spotlight

This week, South Africa’s COVID-19 regulations were amended to state that people who have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 who do not have symptoms do not have to self-isolate. People who have tested positive and who do have COVID-19 symptoms have to isolate for seven days unless a longer period is recommended by a medical practitioner. Chris Bateman spoke to some local experts about the reasoning behind the changes and what other changes may be warranted.

Experts unpack cabinet’s easing of restrictions

Self-collected HPV tests feasible but still long way off

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Reproductive Health, SRHR

An innovative new technology that allows women to collect their own samples for HPV testing, rather than having the sample taken by a healthcare worker, was recently tested in the Eastern Cape. Elri Voigt spoke to local experts about the study and what such a self-collected test might mean for cervical cancer detection in South Africa.

Self-collected HPV tests feasible but still long way off

Analysis: Is there a way out of SA’s medico-legal morass?

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest

With the State Liability Amendment Bill reintroduced in Parliament and a recently published discussion paper from the South African Law Reform Commission, the way medical negligence claims are handled in South Africa may soon change. Spotlight editor Marcus Low unpacks some of the legislative and other options on the table.

Analysis: Is there a way out of SA’s medico-legal morass?

Frustration and confusion following North West hospital closure

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, North West, Provinces

The sudden closure of Thusong District Hospital in the North West has left healthcare workers and patients confused and frustrated with some patients still turning up at the hospital gates, not knowing where to go for medication and other healthcare services. Nthusang Lefafa reports.

Frustration and confusion following North West hospital closure

Free State pushing to get TB patients back into care

Posted in: COVID-19, Free State, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces, TB

As was the case in the rest of the country, the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a severe blow to the tuberculosis (TB) response in the Free State. Refilwe Mochoari gathered the available numbers and asked the province’s health department about their plans to get the TB response back on track.

Free State pushing to get TB patients back into care

In-depth: Top 10 health issues to watch in 2022

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

COVID-19 will continue to dominate headlines in 2022, but from National Health Insurance to the availability of a new HIV prevention injection, it will also be an important year for other areas of health service delivery and for health system governance and reforms. Here is Spotlight’s pick of the top ten issues to keep an eye on.

In-depth: Top 10 health issues to watch in 2022

Questions over implementation of SA’s new infection control plan

Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

Whether it is in the queue outside a community healthcare clinic, in a GP’s waiting room, or in the ICU at a private sector hospital, infections acquired at healthcare facilities pose a threat to people’s health. Nthusang Lefafa looks at government’s recently relaunched infection prevention and control plans and some obstacles to its implementation.

Questions over implementation of SA’s new infection control plan

Health in 2021: Another tumultuous year in under a thousand words

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Child health, COVID-19, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest, Mental Health, NHI, Provinces, TB

It wasn’t rocket science when we predicted at the start of 2021 that South Africa’s biggest challenge this year would be to get COVID-19 shots into as many arms as possible. But the way it has played out with multiple setbacks and scrambling problem-solving is not something anyone could have predicted. In fewer than a thousand words, Spotlight editor Marcus Low takes a look back at a tumultuous year in health in South Africa.

Health in 2021: Another tumultuous year in under a thousand words

What is government doing to restore TB services?

Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces, TB

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns have dealt a severe blow to South Africa’s tuberculosis (TB) response. Tiyese Jeranji asked government about its plans to get TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention services back on track.

What is government doing to restore TB services?

Analysis: Will red tape hold back mix-and-match vaccine boosting in SA?

Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, Latest

Unlike regulators in the United States and Europe, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has not yet given the green light for any form of mix-and-match COVID-19 vaccine boosting. We take a look at the regulatory issues standing in the way of people in South Africa who received the Johnson & Johnson jab being offered Pfizer boosters.

Analysis: Will red tape hold back mix-and-match vaccine boosting in SA?

IN PICTURES: Two decades of HIV in South Africa

Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest

We reflect in pictures South Africa’s journey in the struggle against HIV since 2000.