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?

OPINION: Conversations about sex – we must do better for young people

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest, SRHR

Conversations with young people about sex can lead to safer sexual behaviour, like delayed sexual debut, the use of condoms and other contraceptives, and having fewer concurrent sexual partners but we need to give learners and young people clear and reliable information so that they can make informed choices relating to their health, writes Julia Chaskalson.

OPINION: Conversations about sex – we must do better for young people

In-depth: Fewer meds stockouts at SA clinics, but contraceptives often not available

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Latest, Reproductive Health, SRHR

South Africa is seeing fewer medication stockouts than in previous years but contraception shortages continue to be a problem in the country, according to a new report from the Stop Stockouts Project. Injectables, the most widely used method in South Africa, accounted for three-quarters of contraception stockouts reported. Aisha Abdool Karim unpacks what this means for women’s sexual and reproductive health.

In-depth: Fewer meds stockouts at SA clinics, but contraceptives often not available

Reimagining healthcare in the Eastern Cape: Back to Basics is the right medicine to fix stockouts

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Eastern Cape, Latest

Medicine stockouts can have dire consequences. Tendai Mafuma and Ruth Dube look at lessons learnt over the years on how to help prevent medicine stockouts and argue that although the interventions are not new, if implemented it could help solve the vicious cycle of medicine stockouts in the Eastern Cape.

Reimagining healthcare in the Eastern Cape: Back to Basics is the right medicine to fix stockouts

Mental health: Are medicine shortages fuelling a shadow epidemic?

Posted in: Latest, Mental Health

Almost half of the most commonly used medications to treat mental illness in South Africa were out of stock in August, and many have been in short supply since March. Now, experts warn that amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the nation could see a “shadow epidemic” of psychiatric illness. Laura Lopez Gonzalez investigates.

Mental health: Are medicine shortages fuelling a shadow epidemic?

The dreadful effects of lockdown on access to sexual and reproductive health services

Posted in: Latest, Reproductive Health

Under COVID-19 lockdowns in South Africa and elsewhere, many public services have been interrupted, including sexual and reproductive health services. Thuthukile Mbatha considers the heavy toll these interruptions have taken on people’s lives.

The dreadful effects of lockdown on access to sexual and reproductive health services

Fear of COVID-19 has caused major disruption to healthcare, new data shows

Posted in: Latest

New data points to fears of contracting COVID-19 at congested health facilities as the primary reason for people not seeking needed care and defaulting on their chronic medication, including HIV treatment. Amy Green reports.

Fear of COVID-19 has caused major disruption to healthcare, new data shows

COVID-19: Pandemic puts pressure on medicine supply

Posted in: Latest

Reports of drug shortages and stock-outs across South Africa have the Department of Health in a race against the clock to ensure a supply of essential medicines. With manufacturing operations around the world still facing issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country is battling to meet the demand for contraceptives, tuberculosis medicines and psychiatric medicines.

COVID-19: Pandemic puts pressure on medicine supply

Stop Stockouts releases 2015 report

Posted in: Latest

The 2015 Stop Stock Outs Survey Report: chronic drug stock outs threaten gains of SA’s public health system – bold action is needed to address this.