Well done Herman. We're trying to help in Johannesburg, the problem is huge and resources limited but we must try.
Spotlight
@spotlightnsp.bsky.social
In-depth, public interest health journalism from South Africa. Reporting and analysis on TB, HIV, NCDs, health systems, and much more. www.SpotlightNSP.co.za
OVERLOOKED | Dr Hermann Reuter believes substance abuse is the country’s biggest health issue after HIV, but it's being ignored. Spotlight visited his NGO SAHARA in George to find out how he and his team are helping to change this. www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/08/03/d...
Dr Hermann Reuter says the biggest battle after HIV in SA is addiction - and it is being ignored
Dr Hermann Reuter did pioneering work treating HIV in the early 2000s in Cape Town and in the rural Eastern Cape. Today, his focus is substance abuse, which he believes is the country’s biggest health...
spotlightnsp.co.za
OVERLOOKED | Dr Hermann Reuter believes substance abuse is the country’s biggest health issue after HIV, but it's being ignored. Spotlight visited his NGO SAHARA in George to find out how he and his team are helping to change this. www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/08/03/d...
Dr Hermann Reuter says the biggest battle after HIV in SA is addiction - and it is being ignored
Dr Hermann Reuter did pioneering work treating HIV in the early 2000s in Cape Town and in the rural Eastern Cape. Today, his focus is substance abuse, which he believes is the country’s biggest health...
spotlightnsp.co.za
ICYMI | The iDexis court case has reminded us that medicine safety does not end when a medicine is approved, dispensed or injected. Every medicine continues its safety journey long after it reaches the patient: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/22/w...
When medicines are made outside the factory: Why pharmacovigilance matters more than ever
A high-profile court case has thrust the legalities of compounding medicines in South Africa into the spotlight. Behind the immediate legal issues, hide a series of unresolved questions about how we s...
spotlightnsp.co.za
OP-ED | Revising the compulsory prescribed minimum benefits that medical schemes must provide could deliver meaningful improvements today, while laying the foundations for a more sustainable healthcare system tomorrow, writes Dr Katlego Mothudi. www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/31/r...
Reforming prescribed minimum benefits is the first step to affordable medical cover
With plans in motion to roll out universal health coverage in South Africa, Dr Katlego Mothudi, of the Board of Healthcare Funders, argues that revising the compulsory prescribed minimum benefits that...
spotlightnsp.co.za
TRIED. TESTED. TRUSTED | Long-acting injections, vaginal rings, and tablets are the shiny new things in HIV prevention, and they are far from the only things that work. Find out more: tinyurl.com/ajf5fmrr You can join our mailing list: tinyurl.com/82jdsfjy
TRIED. TESTED. TRUSTED | Long-acting injections, vaginal rings, and tablets are the shiny new things in HIV prevention, and they are far from the only things that work. Find out more: tinyurl.com/ajf5fmrr You can join our mailing list: tinyurl.com/82jdsfjy
OP-ED | Revising the compulsory prescribed minimum benefits that medical schemes must provide could deliver meaningful improvements today, while laying the foundations for a more sustainable healthcare system tomorrow, writes Dr Katlego Mothudi. www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/31/r...
Reforming prescribed minimum benefits is the first step to affordable medical cover
With plans in motion to roll out universal health coverage in South Africa, Dr Katlego Mothudi, of the Board of Healthcare Funders, argues that revising the compulsory prescribed minimum benefits that...
spotlightnsp.co.za
ONE A MONTH | If an HIV prevention pill that provides a month of protection at a time performs well in two ongoing clinical trials, it could become the next big thing in HIV prevention after the lenacapavir injection: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/29/a...
AIDS 2026: Some pieces falling into place for monthly HIV prevention pill, but key data not yet in
If an HIV prevention pill that provides a month of protection at a time performs well in two ongoing clinical trials, it could become the next big thing in HIV prevention after the lenacapavir injecti...
spotlightnsp.co.za
AGEING WITH HIV | South Africa has an ageing population of people living with HIV. For the first time, a set of clinical guidelines maps out a framework to help keep this group of people healthier for longer. www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/30/p...
People with HIV are living longer but have fewer years of good health, new guidelines aim to change that
South Africa has an ageing population of people living with HIV. For the first time a set of clinical guidelines maps out a framework to help keep this group of people healthier for longer, reports El...
spotlightnsp.co.za
AGEING WITH HIV | South Africa has an ageing population of people living with HIV. For the first time, a set of clinical guidelines maps out a framework to help keep this group of people healthier for longer. www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/30/p...
People with HIV are living longer but have fewer years of good health, new guidelines aim to change that
South Africa has an ageing population of people living with HIV. For the first time a set of clinical guidelines maps out a framework to help keep this group of people healthier for longer, reports El...
spotlightnsp.co.za
ONE A MONTH | If an HIV prevention pill that provides a month of protection at a time performs well in two ongoing clinical trials, it could become the next big thing in HIV prevention after the lenacapavir injection: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/29/a...
AIDS 2026: Some pieces falling into place for monthly HIV prevention pill, but key data not yet in
If an HIV prevention pill that provides a month of protection at a time performs well in two ongoing clinical trials, it could become the next big thing in HIV prevention after the lenacapavir injecti...
spotlightnsp.co.za
HIV IN SA | Spotlight's interactive HIV dashboard and graph generator is up-to-date with the latest outputs from the Thembisa model: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/hiv-dashboard/
ONE A WEEK? | A new antiretroviral combination pill taken only once a week appears to work as well as daily pills for treating HIV. Here is the lowdown: tinyurl.com/53h8hhk5 Join our mailing list: tinyurl.com/82jdsfjy
Positive interim findings on new once-weekly HIV treatment pill A new antiretroviral combination pill that is taken only once a week appears to work as well as daily pills at treating HIV....
Positive interim findings on new once-weekly HIV treatment pill
A new antiretroviral combination pill that is taken only once a week appears to work as well as daily pills at treating HIV. This is according to interim study findings...
spotlightnsp.co.za
NEXT BLOCKBUSTER? Researchers have found that a new once-weekly antiretroviral formulation appears to be as effective as the daily pills. The new pill contains only two antiretrovirals, islatravir and lenacapavir. www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/23/p...
Positive interim findings on new once-weekly HIV treatment pill
A new antiretroviral combination pill that is taken only once a week appears to work as well as daily pills at treating HIV. This is according to interim study findings to be presented next week at th...
spotlightnsp.co.za
Positive interim findings on new once-weekly HIV treatment pill A new antiretroviral combination pill that is taken only once a week appears to work as well as daily pills at treating HIV....
Positive interim findings on new once-weekly HIV treatment pill
A new antiretroviral combination pill that is taken only once a week appears to work as well as daily pills at treating HIV. This is according to interim study findings...
spotlightnsp.co.za
COMPOUNDING | How do we know that medicines remain safe once they are being used by thousands – or even millions – of people? The answer lies in pharmacovigilance. Professor Renier Coetzee and Lara van Niekerk unpack this for Spotlight. www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/22/w...
When medicines are made outside the factory: Why pharmacovigilance matters more than ever
A high-profile court case has thrust the legalities of compounding medicines in South Africa into the spotlight. Behind the immediate legal issues, hide a series of unresolved questions about how we s...
spotlightnsp.co.za
"YOU CAN FEEL THEM STARING AT YOU" | TB HIV Care recently introduced a range of HIV services aimed at men who have sex with men and transgender people in George. Spotlight met with some of the people using these services. www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/21/a...
“At the clinic … you can feel them staring” – How specialised services are helping trans people in George
“At the clinic … you can feel them staring” – How specialised services are helping...
An NGO offers safe, private HIV services to Men who Have Sex with Men and transgender people in George. Sue Segar met with some of the people using these services,...
spotlightnsp.co.za
INSIGHTFUL PERSPECTIVES | We bring together diverse voices to foster more informed conversations about the issues shaping health in South Africa: tinyurl.com/bdejbuer Join our mailing list: tinyurl.com/82jdsfjy
CARELESS? Provinces owed the NHLS R11 billion as of March this year. Most of this debt stemmed from KZN with around R3.94 billion, and Gauteng with roughly R3.3 billion. Find out more: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/06/25/p...
Faith Muthambi | Provinces owe the NHLS billions, patients could pay the price. It's time to crack the whip
Provincial debt to the National Health Laboratory Service is not just a financial governance matter, but also a public healthcare service delivery risk that affects diagnoses, treatment, disease surve...
spotlightnsp.co.za
IMPACT | What began as Dr Andrew Ross’s vision to help rural students train for careers in healthcare has surpassed his wildest expectations. Spotlight spoke to Ross and the four recipients of the inaugural fully funded scholarships. www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/15/m...
"My kids will never struggle like I did” – how one doctor’s vision opened doors for hundreds of rural healthcare workers
Dr Andrew Ross’s idea of sponsoring rural students to study for careers in healthcare has succeeded beyond his dreams. Sue Segar sat down with him and chatted to the four students who bagged the initi...
spotlightnsp.co.za
UP CLOSE | Being a researcher who studies tuberculosis in the lab is one thing, having the TB bug in your lungs is quite another. @elri-voigt.bsky.social sat down with two of a relatively small number of people who have experienced both. www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/13/f...
From test tubes to treatment: Two TB researchers on getting the ancient disease themselves
Being a researcher who studies tuberculosis in the lab is one thing, having the TB bug in your lungs is quite another. Elri Voigt sat down with two of a relatively small number of people who have expe...
spotlightnsp.co.za
VACCINES GUIDE | South Africa's national immunisation programme offers free vaccines to all children in the country. Find out more here: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/01/c...
A guide to South Africa's 12 childhood vaccines
There are 12 childhood vaccines in wide use in South Africa. This guide unpacks what you need to know about each of them.
spotlightnsp.co.za
VACCINES GUIDE | South Africa's national immunisation programme offers free vaccines to all children in the country. Find out more here: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/01/c...
A guide to South Africa's 12 childhood vaccines
There are 12 childhood vaccines in wide use in South Africa. This guide unpacks what you need to know about each of them.
spotlightnsp.co.za
Been working on something a little different this last while
Spotlight@spotlightnsp.bsky.social · 3w agoUP CLOSE | Being a researcher who studies tuberculosis in the lab is one thing, having the TB bug in your lungs is quite another. @elri-voigt.bsky.social sat down with two of a relatively small number of people who have experienced both. www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/13/f...
UP CLOSE | Being a researcher who studies tuberculosis in the lab is one thing, having the TB bug in your lungs is quite another. @elri-voigt.bsky.social sat down with two of a relatively small number of people who have experienced both. www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/13/f...
From test tubes to treatment: Two TB researchers on getting the ancient disease themselves
Being a researcher who studies tuberculosis in the lab is one thing, having the TB bug in your lungs is quite another. Elri Voigt sat down with two of a relatively small number of people who have expe...
spotlightnsp.co.za
📰 New from @spotlightnsp.bsky.social SP: As #SouthAfrica prepares for the rollout of pharmacist-initiated management of antiretroviral therapy (PIMART), this article explores three key priorities for successful implementation, including insights from IAS President-Elect Kenneth Nngure. 👇
To make PIMART work we need to plan - we should focus on these three P’s
Eight months after the Supreme Court of Appeal gave the green light for specially trained pharmacists to dispense antiretrovirals without a script from a doctor, the programme remains stuck in the sta...
spotlightnsp.co.za
UNDERAGE DRINKING | Every weekend, healthcare workers across the Western Cape deal with the consequences of violence, alcohol-related injuries and trauma. A survey of 49,000 teens offers both cause for concern and reason for hope, writes Mireille Wenger: www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/10/m...
Mireille Wenger | What 49 000 Western Cape teenagers taught us about preventing alcohol abuse and violence
A survey of 49 000 teenagers in the Western Cape reminds us that preventing violence does not begin in a hospital, a police station or a courtroom. It begins much earlier, in families, schools, sports...
spotlightnsp.co.za