Letter to the editor: Why we need to evaluate the quality of tuberculosis care in South Africa's private health sector
Human Sciences Research Council
Human Science Research Council SA · 2026-05
Abstract
Poor-quality tuberculosis (TB) care is now a larger barrier to reducing mortality than poor access. South Africa (SA) has one of the highest TB burdens globally. Despite ongoing efforts to improve access to testing and treatment in primary care settings, only half of South Africans with drug-susceptible TB and 22% with rifampicin-resistant TB successfully navigate TB care pathways in the public sector. Furthermore, a recent study showed that 29% of South Africans with TB symptoms first report to the private sector.
MeSH terms
- Tuberculosis
- Medicine
- Private sector
- Quality (philosophy)
- Health care
- Public health
- Primary care
- Family medicine
- Environmental health
- Primary health care
- Medical emergency
- Public sector
- Nursing
- Developing country