Publications
HST provides free electronic access to over 500 health systems research related reports, publications and papers. Close to 300 of these are publications that have been commissioned and funded by the Trust. Topics include among others district systems development, drug supply management, human resource development, informatics, legislation, finance, environmental health, mental health, lessons learnt, nutrition and sexually transmitted diseases / HIV/AIDS. The main publication of the HST is the annual South African Health Review. From 2005 all HST publications will be available in low resolution only. To explore the range of publications HST offers use the Advanced search to search using a variety of criteria.

Epidemiological results suggest that most patients requiring Antiretroviral Referral Unit care are women (77.0% of outpatients 76.0% of inpatients) with a mean age of 35.9 years for outpatients and 34.0 years for inpatients. The most commonly used antiretroviral regimen was 3TC+D4T+Efavirenz for both inpatients (66.67%) and outpatients (62.5%) currently receiving HAART. Diagnoses were dominated by infections (49.33% of outpatient diagnoses 55.56% of inpatient diagnoses) rather than antiretroviral drug-related complaints (24.0% 5.56%). Successful treatment outcomes were recorded for a high share of patients.

Costing results describe the share and composition of capital, overhead, clinical personnel and patient-specific costs per outpatient visit, per inpatient day and per inpatient admission. Capital and clinical personnel costs accounted for high shares of total costs for both inpatients (22.50% 26.15%) and outpatients (28.18% 33.84%). Detailed analysis of patient-specific costs revealed laboratory testing and medical and surgical procedures as key cost drivers. Cost projections indicate a decline in costs per outpatient visit and per inpatient day (and admission) over time due to economies of scale, ceteris paribus. Cost-outcome results indicate that treatment costs rise considerably when effectiveness of treatment is considered. A range of research and policy recommendations based on these findings are presented.