scholarly journals The scope of childhood cancer in South Africa: A response to ‘Childhood cancers in a section of the South African private health sector – Analysis of medicines claims data’

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaques Van Heerden ◽  
Mariana Kruger
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Childhood Cancer ◽  
South African ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Paediatric Oncology ◽  
The South ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Medical Aid ◽  
Childhood Malignancies ◽  
Private Health Sector

Childhood cancer is an under resourced medical field that is emerging as a great healthcare concern in low- and middle-income countries such as South Africa. Therefore, reporting data in this field that may inform policymakers should be representative of the subject matter. This article aims to discuss why medicines claims as an indicator for incidence, as per an article published in 2020, is not representative of childhood malignancies in the South African setting. Literature to support the commentary were sourced using Pubmed, Google scholar, and data presented by members of the South African Children’s Cancer Study Group (SACCSG). Private medical aid coverage in South Africa between 2002 and 2018 varied between 15.5% and 18.2%. Of these, 9.5% were children under 18 years and 3.5% were under the age of six. Only 13.5% of children were treated in private paediatric oncology units during 2015. The limitations in the study were the variable medical aid coverage, the disproportionate age representation, and lack of reliable indicators for measurement and calculation of incidence. Utilising one medicines claims database to evaluate the incidence of childhood cancer in South Africa is not representative and cannot inform policy.Contribution: This article highlights the importance of accurate registration of childhood cancer diagnoses, especially when data and conclusions based on these results inform policy. The study highlights the limitations of extrapolating general conclusions based on data representing only a small sector of the childhood cancer landscape in South Africa.

The Oxford Handbook of the South African Economy

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Economic History ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
The South ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Strategic Issues ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Depth Analysis

While South Africa shares some characteristics with other middle-income countries, it has a unique economic history with distinctive characteristics. South Africa is an economic powerhouse with a significant role not only at the southern African regional and continental levels, but also as a member of BRICS. However, the country faces profound developmental challenges, including the ‘triple challenges’ of poverty, inequality and unemployment. There has been a lack of structural transformation and weak economic growth. Ongoing debates around economic policies to address these challenges need to be based on rigorous and robust empirical evidence and in-depth analysis of South African economic issues. This necessitates wide-ranging research, such as that brought together in this handbook. This volume intends to provide original, comprehensive, detailed, state-of-the-art analytical perspectives, that contribute to knowledge while also contributing to well-informed and productive discourse on the South African economy. While concentrating on the more recent economic challenges facing the country, the handbook also provides historical and political context, an in-depth examination of strategic issues in the various critical economic sectors, and assembles diverse analytical perspectives and arguments that have implications for policymaking.

Challenges and Complexities of the South African Economy

2021 ◽  
pp. 2-25
Author(s):  
Fiona Tregenna ◽  
Arabo K. Ewinyu ◽  
Arkebe Oqubay ◽  
Imraan Valodia
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
The Political ◽  
Economic Data ◽  
Growth Path ◽  
The South ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Policy Context ◽  
Key Characteristics

This chapter discusses the key characteristics and core challenges of the South African economy in the post-apartheid era. South Africa shares some commonalities with other African and middle-income economies, yet has a unique history and some distinctive economic features. South Africa’s economic complexities and challenges are discussed here with reference to six comparator countries. We examine South Africa’s growth path, considering the low rates of economic growth as well as the lack of structural transformation and the unsustainable and non-inclusive nature of this growth. The ‘triple challenges’ of poverty, inequality, and employment are both a manifestation of the nature of this growth path and a constraint on overall growth. This is also briefly evaluated in the context of the political economy and policy context of growth and development in South Africa. The chapter reviews South African economic data, with a focus on microeconomic survey data.

scholarly journals Effects of Brain Drain on the South African Health Sector; Analysis of the Dynamics of its Push Factors

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4(J)) ◽  
pp. 62-72
Author(s):  
Victor H. Mlambo ◽  
Toyin Cotties Adetiba
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Brain Drain ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
The South ◽  
Push Factors ◽  
African Health ◽  
South African Health

While there has been a plethora of studies that addresses migration in Africa, many have yet to successfully unpack the effects of brain drain on the South African health sector. Using textual analysis of the available literature relevant to the topic under consideration; this work seeks to identify the major structural and socio-economic push factors that drive the migration of health professionals in South Africa, relying on Revestain’s laws of migration and Lee’s push/pull theory of migration. The study also looks at explaining other factors that contribute to the migration of health professionals in South Africa. We argue that for South Africa to retain health professionals, the government needs to increase the training of health workers, improve their working conditions and security, upgrade infrastructure and ensure availability of resources as well as develop a more open immigration policy prioritizing skilled immigration.

scholarly journals Reforming the health sector in South Africa – Post 1994

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-179
Author(s):  
Melody Brauns ◽  
Anne Stanton
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
South African Government ◽  
The South ◽  
African Government

This article reviews the efforts of the South African government in recognising development challenges of the post-apartheid era and assesses the approaches employed to bring about economic growth and to address inherited inequalities.

Inadequate Treatment for Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the South African Private Health Sector

1999 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 324-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
A M Connolly ◽  
D Wilkinson ◽  
A Harrison ◽  
M Lurie ◽  
S S Abdool Karim
Keyword(s):  
Sexually Transmitted Diseases ◽  
South African ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
The South ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Private Health Sector

scholarly journals Comparison of adherence measures using claims data in the South African private health sector

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (9) ◽  
pp. 932
Author(s):  
M Obeng-Kusi ◽  
M S Lubbe ◽  
M Cockeran ◽  
J R Burger
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Claims Data ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
The South ◽  
Private Health Sector

scholarly journals Industry strategies in the parliamentary process of adopting a sugar-sweetened beverage tax in South Africa: a systematic mapping

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Safura Abdool Karim ◽  
Petronell Kruger ◽  
Karen Hofman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Public Consultation ◽  
The South ◽  
African Region ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Industry Response

Abstract Background In 2016, the South African government became the first in the African region to announce the introduction of an SSB tax based on sugar content as a public health measure to reduce obesity. This tax was introduced against the backdrop of South Africa having a large sugar production and SSB manufacturing industry, as well as very high unemployment rates. The introduction of fiscal measures, such as a SSB tax, has been met with well-coordinated and funded opposition in other countries. Methods The aim of this study is to describe and analyse the arguments and strategies utilised by industry during policymaking processes to oppose regulatory actions in LMIC. This study analyses arguments and strategies used by the beverage and related industries during the public consultation phase of the process to adopt the South African SSB tax. Results Industry opposition to the SSB tax was comprehensive and employed several tactics. First, industry underscored its economic importance and the potential job losses and other economic harms that may arise from the tax. This argument was well-received by policymakers, and similar to industry tactics employed in other middle income countries like Mexico. Second, industry discussed self-regulation and voluntary measures as a form of policy substitution, which mirrors industry responses in the US, the Caribbean and Latin America. Third, industry misused or disputed evidence to undermine the perceived efficacy of the tax. Finally, considerations for small business and their ability to compete with multi-national corporations were a unique feature of industry response. Conclusions Industry opposition followed both general trends, and also introduced nuanced and context-specific arguments. The industry response experienced in South Africa can be instructive for other countries contemplating the introduction of similar measures.

scholarly journals Anti-epileptic prescribing patterns in the South African private health sector (2008–2013)

2016 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 142-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Jacobs ◽  
Marlene Julyan ◽  
Martie S Lubbe ◽  
Johanita R Burger ◽  
Marike Cockeran
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Prescribing Patterns ◽  
The South ◽  
Private Health Sector

scholarly journals Effects of Brain Drain on the South African Health Sector; Analysis of the Dynamics of its Push Factors

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor H. Mlambo ◽  
Toyin Cotties Adetiba
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Brain Drain ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
The South ◽  
Push Factors ◽  
African Health ◽  
South African Health

While there has been a plethora of studies that addresses migration in Africa, many have yet to successfully unpack the effects of brain drain on the South African health sector. Using textual analysis of the available literature relevant to the topic under consideration; this work seeks to identify the major structural and socio-economic push factors that drive the migration of health professionals in South Africa, relying on Revestain’s laws of migration and Lee’s push/pull theory of migration. The study also looks at explaining other factors that contribute to the migration of health professionals in South Africa. We argue that for South Africa to retain health professionals, the government needs to increase the training of health workers, improve their working conditions and security, upgrade infrastructure and ensure availability of resources as well as develop a more open immigration policy prioritizing skilled immigration.

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