South Africa's TB crisis is not just a health issue but an economic and social one, as new research commissioned by the National South African Health Department (DOH) reveals. The study highlights that over half of the nation's TB patients incur catastrophic costs, pushing their households deeper into poverty. This alarming situation poses significant challenges to the government's ambitious goal of reducing TB cases by 80% by 2030. Don Mudzengi, health economist at the Aurum Institute, emphasised the severe financial strain on patients, presenting the survey findings at a recent DOH Webinar on National TB Patient Cost Survey Findings.
“Once TB comes, you lose jobs, incomes fall, and you do not have any way to cope with the costs. In addition, there is very little social assistance, this is not a great story to tell.” - Don Mudzengi.
Read the full article on these findings on Business Day Live.
