The 20th edition of the South African Health Review (SAHR) published by Health Systems Trust was launched on 23 August 2017 in Pretoria.
Widely recognised as one of the most authoritative sources on the South African health system, the SAHR provides a unique analysis of progress and challenges in priority areas related to health policy implementation, health service delivery and access.
The key findings and conclusions of the 2017 SAHR and include significant improvements in key health outcomes relating to declining death rates, increased life expectancy and decreased institutional maternal mortality. Other notable highlights include improved access to medicines through the Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution Programme and increased public health sector expenditure over the past 20 years. There was also recognisable progress in the Ideal Clinic Realisation and Maintenance Programme. However, the growing burden of non-communicable diseases is increasingly impacting on an already stretched health system. Breast and cervical cancer are the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in South Africa, calling for increased access to treatment and screening services. There is a need for early identification of DR-TB patients, screening for household contacts and educating household members about DR-TB.