South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
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The guidelines in this series provide evidence-based practical guidance for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of persons with inflammatory joint diseases. The purpose of these guidelines is to aid in shared decision-making between patient and physician, aiming to support high-quality clinical care. These guidelines have been prepared using the AGREE II instrument and based on adoption and, where appropriate, adaptation of international guidelines.
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Smoking and alcohol misuse are lifestyle factors that can be controlled and have significant health effects. Both these factors increase the risk of developing conditions such as diabetes mellitus because they affect glucose metabolism and can interfere with blood glucose control in individuals with diabetes. Research on tobacco and alcohol use and specific health outcomes among adults with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) could provide valuable information leading to more efficient treatment and management of this disease. ⋯ There is a need for targeted smoking cessation programmes and alcohol misuse counselling among individuals living with diabetes and prediabetes.
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On 15 May 2024, the National Health Insurance Act No. 20 of 2023 (the Act) was signed into law, and South Africa (SA) officially adopted a national health insurance (NHI) system as part of its efforts to achieve universal healthcare across the country. While NHI has been controversial and much talked about, plenty of how the scheme will operate remains an unknown, and has not been defined within the Act. ⋯ Some decisions will need to be made about what kinds of healthcare and other benefits South Africans can expect to have covered by the scheme - in other words, decisions about what will be included under NHI and what will be excluded. This paper does not aim to discuss the constitutionality or legality of the NHI Act, but focuses only on the issue of how government ought to consider making decisions about what services the NHI covers.