Superbugs are fighting back and our state hospitals don’t have the right specialists or enough funding to stop more germs from becoming untreatable
14 September 2022 - 07:00
byYolanda Mdzeke and Zano Kunene
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Funding for SA’s first action plan on drug resistance has been insufficient and the first set of goals expires in two years. Antibiotic resistance happens when these medicines are overused or prescribed to treat the wrong bacteria.
A study of 57 hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal found that only three facilities had any money to use to roll out the plan.
There are workarounds hospitals and clinics can employ in the absence of a budget, and a full team of specialists to make sure antibiotics are prescribed responsibly. Watch this video for the details
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
WATCH: How to beat superbugs on a tight budget
Superbugs are fighting back and our state hospitals don’t have the right specialists or enough funding to stop more germs from becoming untreatable
This story was produced by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism. Sign up for the newsletter
Meet the young woman who heads SA’s medicines regulator
WATCH: Why SA’s running out of drugs to treat this superbug
Why doesn’t SA use this bargaining chip when it makes deals with drugmakers?
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.