Spotlight

Monitoring people’s blood pressure in their homes leads to better control – study finds Hypertension is poorly managed in South Africa. Remarkable findings from a study in rural KwaZulu-Natal suggest a compelling alternative to the current model of clinic-based care – using community hea...

Remarkable findings from a study in rural KwaZulu-Natal suggest a compelling alternative to the current model of clinic-based care of hypertension.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/10/m...

Monitoring people’s blood pressure in their homes leads to better control – study finds Hypertension is poorly managed in South Africa. Remarkable findings from a study in rural KwaZulu-Natal suggest a compelling alternative to the current model of clinic-based care – using community hea...

Remarkable findings from a study in rural KwaZulu-Natal suggest a compelling alternative to the current model of clinic-based care of hypertension.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/10/m...

PRESSING ON | The funding crisis for TB research remains acute. Fortunately, much TB research continues. We give you the lowdown: tinyurl.com/yhjenfcn

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PRESSING ON | The funding crisis for TB research remains acute. Fortunately, much TB research continues. We give you the lowdown: tinyurl.com/yhjenfcn

Join our mailing list: shorturl.at/Ntzoa

Swab-based molecular tests for tuberculosis using near-point-of-care platforms

New, large, multi-country study shows that Truenat MTB Ultima and MiniDock MTB have strong potential to exceed WHO minimum accuracy targets for a near point-of-care TB diagnostic

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

I suspect there will be some truly fascinating presentations of data from this study at conferences 3 or 4 years from now.

SA and Indonesia team up on massive asymptomatic TB study Over the last decade, there’s been growing evidence that people can have TB without having any symptoms. But there is still much uncertainty over how such asymptomatic TB functions in the body and how...

There is still much uncertainty over how asymptomatic TB functions in the body and how infectious it is. An ambitious study, set to be conducted in South Africa and Indonesia, is trying to find some answers, reports @elri-voigt.bsky.social.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/06/s...

SA and Indonesia team up on massive asymptomatic TB study Over the last decade, there’s been growing evidence that people can have TB without having any symptoms. But there is still much uncertainty over how such asymptomatic TB functions in the body and how...

There is still much uncertainty over how asymptomatic TB functions in the body and how infectious it is. An ambitious study, set to be conducted in South Africa and Indonesia, is trying to find some answers, reports @elri-voigt.bsky.social.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/06/s...

Withdrawal of US aid has hurt South Africa’s HIV programme The number of HIV viral load tests is significantly lower than expected, according to an analysis of data from the National Health Laboratory Service which Spotlight and GroundUp obtained through the ...

MUST READ | The number of HIV viral load tests recorded by the National Health Laboratory Service is significantly less than expected since Feb 2025. Spotlight and @groundup.org.za are aware of no compelling reason to explain this except the US aid withdrawal.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/04/w...

Withdrawal of US aid has hurt South Africa’s HIV programme The number of HIV viral load tests is significantly lower than expected, according to an analysis of data from the National Health Laboratory Service which Spotlight and GroundUp obtained through the ...

MUST READ | The number of HIV viral load tests recorded by the National Health Laboratory Service is significantly less than expected since Feb 2025. Spotlight and @groundup.org.za are aware of no compelling reason to explain this except the US aid withdrawal.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/04/w...

ON THE CUSP OF CHANGE | South Africa is on the brink of a major shift in HIV care. Soon, trained pharmacists will be able to dispense antiretrovirals without a doctor’s script required. Learn more in our: tinyurl.com/2cbumnrw

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WHO recommends nutritional support in fight against TB – government claims to take it on board Evidence has been mounting that poor nutrition impacts both someone’s risk of falling ill with TB and how well they do once ill. But as the World Health Organization (WHO) releases new guidelines on T...

That TB and malnutrition often go hand-in-hand is well established, but it is also one of those connections that is often greeted by a shrug. That is something the WHO is hoping to change.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/03/w...

WHO recommends nutritional support in fight against TB – government claims to take it on board Evidence has been mounting that poor nutrition impacts both someone’s risk of falling ill with TB and how well they do once ill. But as the World Health Organization (WHO) releases new guidelines on T...

That TB and malnutrition often go hand-in-hand is well established, but it is also one of those connections that is often greeted by a shrug. That is something the WHO is hoping to change.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/11/03/w...

ON THE CUSP OF CHANGE | South Africa is on the brink of a major shift in HIV care. Soon, trained pharmacists will be able to dispense antiretrovirals without a doctor’s script required. Learn more in our: tinyurl.com/2cbumnrw

Join our mailing list: shorturl.at/Ntzoa

The second in our series on the key legal questions on which the NHI court cases are likely to turn. Great work from Jesse Copelyn, as always.

On which legal arguments are the NHI court cases set to turn? Part 2: Right to healthcare services The NHI Act is facing a slew of legal challenges from multiple organisations. For this special series, Spotlight combed through court papers, and spoke with legal experts to pin down what specific arg...

NHI NEWS | The NHI Act is facing a slew of legal challenges. Spotlight combed through court papers, and spoke with legal experts to pin down what specific arguments litigants are betting on.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/10/29/o...

On which legal arguments are the NHI court cases set to turn? Part 2: Right to healthcare services The NHI Act is facing a slew of legal challenges from multiple organisations. For this special series, Spotlight combed through court papers, and spoke with legal experts to pin down what specific arg...

NHI NEWS | The NHI Act is facing a slew of legal challenges. Spotlight combed through court papers, and spoke with legal experts to pin down what specific arguments litigants are betting on.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/10/29/o...

ARVs without a script: What next after major court ruling? A landmark ruling from the Supreme Court of Appeal means specially trained pharmacists will soon be allowed to dispense antiretrovirals without a doctor’s script. Pharmacists with the required trainin...

MONDAY MUST READ | Pharmacists with the required training will need special permits to dispense antiretrovirals without a doctor’s script. Spotlight reports that they may be able to start applying for these permits as soon as next month.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/10/27/p...

BIG SA NEWS IN HIV PREVENTION | Our medicines regulator approved an HIV prevention shot containing lenacapavir. It provides protection for six months with a single dose. A limited public rollout is set for April 2026.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/10/27/b...

BIG SA NEWS IN HIV PREVENTION | Our medicines regulator approved an HIV prevention shot containing lenacapavir. It provides protection for six months with a single dose. A limited public rollout is set for April 2026.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/10/27/b...

ARVs without a script: What next after major court ruling? A landmark ruling from the Supreme Court of Appeal means specially trained pharmacists will soon be allowed to dispense antiretrovirals without a doctor’s script. Pharmacists with the required trainin...

MONDAY MUST READ | Pharmacists with the required training will need special permits to dispense antiretrovirals without a doctor’s script. Spotlight reports that they may be able to start applying for these permits as soon as next month.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/10/27/p...

AGAINST THE ODDS | SA has an army of inspiring people making a difference. How could we bring more of the dynamism of our NGOs into our provincial health departments? tinyurl.com/y5atb8z

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World’s biggest community-led health watchdog falters as US backs out Ritshidze is on the verge of collapse, threatening vital HIV services in South Africa. Learn about the urgent need for support.

MUST READ | Ritshidze, South Africa’s powerhouse community-led healthcare monitor, is on the brink of shutting down. Experts warn its collapse could unravel years of progress in our clinics just as worrying new data emerges about HIV services.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/10/22/r...

Waiting is not an option in the first 1000 days: How a shared approach in Cape Town helps high-risk babies South Africa’s health department is overhauling its framework for disability services. It prompts an important question: When it comes to Cerebral Palsy - a wide-ranging motor disorder with possible c...

When it comes to Cerebral Palsy – a wide-ranging motor disorder with possible comorbidities – what could a standardised package of baby care look like, especially within an overburdened public health system?

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/10/23/w...

World’s biggest community-led health watchdog falters as US backs out Ritshidze is on the verge of collapse, threatening vital HIV services in South Africa. Learn about the urgent need for support.

MUST READ | Ritshidze, South Africa’s powerhouse community-led healthcare monitor, is on the brink of shutting down. Experts warn its collapse could unravel years of progress in our clinics just as worrying new data emerges about HIV services.
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/10/22/r...

How Philani’s amazing ‘mentor mothers’ are bringing hope to struggling moms and children Mothers and babies in South Africa can easily fall through the cracks and end up going hungry and not getting the healthcare they need. Sue Segar spent time with an innovative project that is helping ...

GOOD NEWS DOSE | Mothers and babies in South Africa often go hungry and miss out on healthcare. Spotlight spent time with an innovative project that is helping thousands such women and kids in parts of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/10/20/h...

SAVING LIVES | Immunisations are considered one of the most cost-effective health interventions, second only to access to potable water, says a leading vaccine expert. Find out more: tinyurl.com/5n7rax8t

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SAVING LIVES | Immunisations are considered one of the most cost-effective health interventions, second only to access to potable water, says a leading vaccine expert. Find out more: tinyurl.com/5n7rax8t

Join our mailing list: shorturl.at/Ntzoa

Confirmation in here that tariff-determination regs for private healthcare published in Feb have been binned. Govt is working on new ones. Recommendations from 2019 HMI report are still largely unimplemented.

Government and the private sector should team up to improve healthcare, conference hears Government and the private sector could work together much more effectively to improve healthcare services in South Africa, but the potential of such a partnership remains largely untapped, delegates ...

Healthcare funding in the public and private sector is headed towards a sustainability crisis, delegates at the HASA conference heard. But potential solutions such as pooling resources, linking services and partnering smarter has proved to be elusive.

www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/10/15/g...