In-depth: How cystic fibrosis is being treated in SA while breakthrough meds remain out of reach

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

Spotlight recently reported on a court case aimed at expanding access to breakthrough new treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF) and on how this debilitating disease is diagnosed in South Africa. Now, in Part 3 of this special series on CF, Catherine Tomlinson turns the spotlight on how the disease is currently being treated in the country, while the new treatments are still largely out of reach.

In-depth: How cystic fibrosis is being treated in SA while breakthrough meds remain out of reach

Analysis: Landmark SA court case takes on US maker of cystic fibrosis drugs

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Healthcare system, Latest

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a debilitating and often deadly disease. Until recently, the only treatments for its symptoms were difficult to administer and time-consuming. Life-changing new treatments that dramatically improve the prognosis for people with the disease have been developed, but they are expensive and Vertex, the US company making the drugs, has decided against registering the drugs in South Africa. Cheri Nel, a woman living with CF, is now taking Vertex on in a South African court. Catherine Tomlinson unpacks the details.