Opinion: Health needed a recovery budget, we got the opposite

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest

For healthcare, a post-pandemic human rights-focused budget would have allocated funding specifically for backlogs in access to health services from the past two years, as well as tackling the present inequities in access to healthcare that characterise the public health system. Tshidi Lencoasa, Khanyisa Mapipa, and Julia Chaskalson argue that this year’s budget does not do enough to enable government to realise people’s fundamental human right to access healthcare.

Opinion: Health needed a recovery budget, we got the opposite

Abortion access in Eastern Cape falls far short

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

Women and girls seeking abortions are often forced to seek informal, illegal, and unsafe abortions as a result of various systemic barriers. Khanyisa Mapipa, Sibusisiwe Ndlela, and Thokozile Mtsolongo look at the state of abortion services in the public sector in the Eastern Cape.

Abortion access in Eastern Cape falls far short

Eastern Cape health department continues to use mud clinics

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

Despite Eastern Cape Health authorities acknowledging that the continued use of mud clinics is a concern, rural residents still have to make do with these dilapidated clinics. Luvuyo Mehlwana visited some of these mud clinics to speak to some residents and asked the provincial health department about their plans to address this.

Eastern Cape health department continues to use mud clinics

Analysis: What does a security guard strike reveal about the Eastern Cape Department of Health?

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

Security guards at healthcare facilities in Nelson Mandela Bay went on strike in January when their salaries had not been paid. During the strike, healthcare workers had to close some clinics as they feared for their safety, and patients were left stranded. Luvuyo Mehlwana reports on what happened and asked the health authorities what plans are in place to prevent similar incidents amid persistent budget constraints.

Analysis: What does a security guard strike reveal about the Eastern Cape Department of Health?

Ten months later government hits reset button on Charlotte Maxeke Hospital repairs

Posted in: Gauteng, Healthcare system, Latest, Provinces

After almost a year, the Gauteng Health Department yesterday announced a strategic reset for repairs at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital after a fire ravaged parts of the hospital in April last year. The announcement comes ahead of Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s State of the Province Address on Monday but still does not provide immediate relief to patients and hospitals buckling as a result of delays. Ufrieda Ho reports.

Ten months later government hits reset button on Charlotte Maxeke Hospital repairs

In-depth: Surgery catch-up hamstrung by shortage of ICU nurses

Posted in: Spotlight

Hospitals in South Africa have been put under immense strain over the past two years as beds were filled with COVID-19 patients and elective surgeries had to be put on hold. To make things worse, pre-existing shortages of intensive care trained nurses and other critical staff were exacerbated by healthcare workers themselves contracting SARS-CoV-2 and falling ill or having to isolate themselves. Tiyese Jeranji explores how Gauteng and the Western Cape are catching up on elective surgeries and asks what is being done about the underlying problem of staff shortages.

In-depth: Surgery catch-up hamstrung by shortage of ICU nurses

Top 10 health issues to watch in 2022

Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, HIV, Latest, 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.

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

Modest improvement at dysfunctional Gauteng clinics, report finds

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

Although a new community healthcare monitoring report notes some improvement in filling vacancies at Gauteng clinics, concerns remain over staff shortages and the impact this has on providing quality care, especially to people living with HIV. Thabo Molelekwa reports.

Modest improvement at dysfunctional Gauteng clinics, report finds

In Focus: Unpacking the link between HIV and mental health

Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV, Latest

Studies show that people living with HIV are often at a higher risk for depression and anxiety, including a higher risk of suicide. Tiyese Jeranji spoke to mental health practitioners, activists, and people living with HIV to unpack the link between HIV and mental health.

In Focus: Unpacking the link between HIV and mental health

Ageing nurses: A crisis on the horizon

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest

Nurses make up a large part of the healthcare workforce in South Africa, but almost half of them are set to retire in the next 15 years. This suggests existing shortages of nurses will become even greater unless we take concrete steps to boost nurse training and retention. Elna Schütz reports.

Medical intern burnout worsened by COVID-19

Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare system, Latest

Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic many medical interns in South Africa had a tough time, often working long hours and with little oversight or support. Chris Bateman spoke to interns and junior doctors in public hospitals and tag-on COVID-19 facilities, who are performing tasks of porters, auxiliary nurses, and liaising with anxious relatives, instead of getting the required hands-on, supervised learning.