OPINION: The response to the announced increase in spending on health (from R84bn to R102bn ' approximately a 25% increase) by Pravin Gordhan has received mixed responses, from praise to queries regarding whether the budget brings us closer to the proposed National Health Insurance. By Bernhard Gaede
Ten months into what many will agree is one of the toughest cabinet portfolios, health minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi shares his vision for healthcare in South Africa. In his first wide-ranging interview the former Limpopo doctor speaks frankly about National Health Insurance, HIV and the struggling health system.
South Africa's health system has to make a 180 degree turn, away from the dominant curative health system, which is unsustainable and unaffordable, to a health system where prevention is the cornerstone, believes health minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi.
All patients entering a state health care facility will routinely be offered HIV counseling and testing while moves are afoot to enable community health workers to conduct these tests in an effort to not add to the burden of nurses and doctors.
A paper is described as an overview discussion document to establish "the progress and challenges in the efforts to improve health in South Africa since 1994" was recently presented to health leaders in South Africa. The report commissioned by the Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation also outlines possible answers and directions that government should take on future health policy, including national health insurance. The report can be read here.
An innovative process aimed at unblocking health service delivery by building a strong, united team of health leaders is being piloted in Namibia by a partnership of management and development organisations.
When maternal mortality almost doubled in fourteen years, health leaders in Namibia decided to make maternal health a priority ' and set up a pilot in Khomas region.
The legal fraternity is being called upon to play a meaningful role in the response to AIDS, especially to combat prejudice and discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS.
Western Cape health MEC Theuns Botha yesterday accused the African National Congress of mismanaging the province while in control, but in the same forum described national health minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi as 'the best news to health services this country has seen for a long time'.
Rural doctors have invited President Zuma to shadow a rural doctor for a day, adding that if he ignored them it could mean he didn't care about the people they serve.
Civil society organisations have expressed strong opposition to the imprisonment of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, a gay couple, in Malawi. More than 40 African civil society organisations have called for the immediate release of this couple, and for the repeal of discriminatory laws against same-sex relationships.
Discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS continues to thrive in many parts of Africa because of insufficient laws to protect human rights. A conference of African jurists held in Johannesburg, recently, heard that although judges do not implement laws, they are suitably placed to make progressive decisions that can end the discrimination.
South Africa faces potentially huge cuts in donor support for its HIV/AIDS programme over the next five years, yet it needs an extra R2-billion a year to reach all those who need antiretroviral treatment.
A Human Rights Watch report has revealed details of health care providers withholding care or engaging in treatment that intentionally inflicts pain on patients for no medical reason.
JOHANNESBURG: (PlusNews) - A study finding that foreigners are about half as likely to fail antiretroviral (ARV) treatment as South African citizens attending the same Johannesburg clinic has challenged widely held assumptions about migrants' ability to adhere to HIV/AIDS drug regimens.
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