In-depth, public interest health journalism.

SA is facing a healthcare worker crisis – What to do?

By Kathryn Cleary, September 25, 2020

Posted in: Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, Latest, NHI, Spotlight on NHI

Many healthcare workers are rightly identified as heroes of South Africa’s COVID-19 response. Yet, often healthcare workers are given very little support in the public healthcare system, something that may get worse as healthcare worker shortages get more acute in the coming years. Kathryn Cleary investigates.

SA is facing a healthcare worker crisis – What to do?

Some TB patients still required to take pills in front of witnesses

By Elri Voigt, September 17, 2020

Posted in: Edition 10: Drug-resistant TB, Edition 12: SA’s AIDS & TB response, Edition 14: Tuberculosis, Latest, TB, TB Response

Some tuberculosis patients in South Africa are still required to take their pills in front of a healthcare worker or family member. Is this a justified means of ensuring people take their medicine, or is it an invasion of personal autonomy? Elri Voigt asked local TB experts.

Tags: Adherence guidelines for HIV CCMDD programme Clinics Cochrane Review Community Health Care Workers Department of Health Directly Observed Treatment Short Course DOT DOTS drug-susceptible tuberculosis featured HIV infectious diseases medical ethics MSF Siracusa Principles TB TB and NCDs TB medicines TB patients TB Treatment treatment adherence Ward Based Outreach Teams WBOT's WHO World Health Organization XDR-TB