Health Matters

Tag: tuberculosis

  • 56,000 South Africans succumbed to tuberculosis in 2023

    An estimated 1.25 million people worldwide and 56,000 in South Africa succumbed to tuberculosis (TB) in 2023, according to recent WHO figures. These alarming statistics place TB above COVID-19 as the leading infectious disease killer globally. Marcus Low analyzes these findings, examining TB’s persistent toll in South Africa and the WHO’s goals to reduce both TB incidence and mortality. TB…

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  • Affordable TB Medicines: South Africa’s Patent Battle

    South Africa’s battle for affordable TB medicines echoes the country’s earlier struggle to expand access to HIV treatment. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, South Africa faced an uncontrolled AIDS epidemic. The crisis was worsened by the government’s rejection of the scientific consensus on HIV/AIDS. Under former President Thabo Mbeki, many public-sector patients were denied access to life-saving antiretroviral…

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  • TB Patient Costs Deepen Poverty In South Africa

    More than half of South African households affected by tuberculosis face catastrophic costs, according to new research commissioned by the Department of Health. The findings show that 56.2% of affected households spent more than 20% of their annual pre-TB income on expenses linked to the disease. These costs include medical consultations, transport, special foods and vitamins. Patients and caregivers also…

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  • Competition Commission and J&J reach TB drug agreement

    The Competition Commission has reached a landmark agreement with Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and its subsidiary, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, under which J&J will not enforce its patent on a crucial tuberculosis (TB) drug in 134 low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, J&J will reduce the drug’s price for South Africa’s Department of Health by approximately 40%. This decision not to enforce the…

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