The public health system continues to have shortages of HIV and TB medicines, with nearly a quarter of clinics surveyed reporting stockouts in the past three months.

The South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has certified the first class action in South African history for sick workers, allowing gold miners suffering from silicosis and tuberculosis to proceed with their claims against 30 gold producers. Obstacles remain before sick miners receive compensation but this is an important victory for them.

South Africa is running out of an essential medicine for treating very sick patients with tuberculosis (TB) and drug-resistant bacterial infections. Many hospitals are already out of stock.

Several prisoners intend suing the Department of Justice and Correctional Services because they contracted tuberculosis (TB) in prison.

OBITUARY Dudley Lee died at the age of 68 on 21 May in Victoria Hospital. He successfully sued the Minister of Correctional Services because he became ill with tuberculosis (TB) while awaiting trial in Pollsmoor prison.

Today is World TB Day. More people die of tuberculosis in South Africa than from any other disease.

The project has been scrapped after the Treatment Action Campaign asked the national government to intervene.

A leaked email shows that a plan for a campaign to scuttle the South African government's draft intellectual property policy was about to proceed, despite a denial by the pharmaceutical industry that it had approved the campaign.