South Africa: Diabetes | South Africa's Diabetes Targets Remain Out of Reach As Patients Struggle to Access Care
[Health-e] Public health care system struggles to diagnose and manage diabetes despite national targets. Experts warn that poor data, staff shortages and gaps in treatment leave patients at risk. Diabetes Alliance is preparing a scorecard to hold government and stakeholders accountable.
South Africa's targets for addressing diabetes within its public healthcare system remain unmet, as patients continue to struggle with access to care. Despite governmental declarations and targets, the Diabetes Alliance, led by Dr Patrick Ngassa Piotie, has launched an accountability framework to track the implementation of commitments to improve diabetes care before the 2027 deadline.
Patients face gaps in record-keeping, testing, and treatment, often unable to afford essential medications and transportation for medication collection. The Diabetes Alliance aims to increase accountability by creating a scorecard to monitor the progress of various stakeholders, including the government, private sector, and civil society organizations.
The lack of clear statistics on diabetes prevalence in South Africa, estimated at around 6.1% of recorded deaths in 2024 by Stats SA and 2.3 million people living with diabetes in 2024 by the International Diabetes Federation, hinders the development of an effective response. Half of South Africans with diabetes may be undiagnosed, according to Bridget McNulty, CEO of the Sweet Life Diabetes Community non-profit.
The National Department of Health acknowledges the need for stronger data systems to accurately assess progress and inform interventions. However, civil society organizations are calling for greater accountability and response to the Johannesburg Declaration, which demands political leadership, coordination, financing, and parliamentary oversight for diabetes care.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
