As the world marks World Hypertension Day on 17 May and observes May Measurement Month, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) is calling on healthcare providers to make blood pressure checks a routine part of every patient visit. The SAMRC is also urging the government to integrate regular screenings into school health programmes, laying the foundation for a healthy generation and reducing the growing burden of hypertension in communities across the country

The officially designated South African World Health Organization - Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) Collaborating Centre (CC Ref no. SOA-52) is hosted within the South African Medical Research Council’s (SAMRC) Burden of Disease Research Unit (BODRU), and functions to support the development and implementation of the WHO-FIC across the African region, and through the global WHO-FIC Network. Previously co-headed by Prof Debbie Bradshaw and Dr Lyn Hanmer, the leadership has transitioned with Dr Megan Prinsloo being appointed co-Head together with Dr Hanmer in February 2025

HIV-associated TB mortality remains relatively high in the country. Diagnostic delays and limitations of sputum-based diagnostics continue to hinder accurate diagnosis and treatment efforts. HIV-associated TB is harder to diagnose with sputum-based diagnostics due to paucibacillary sputum and extrapulmonary TB being more common, with fewer patients being able to produce sputum.

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) has granted a five-year extension to the SAMRC/NWU Extramural Unit (EMU) for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, effective from the beginning of April 2025. This decision follows a successful review process and highlights the crucial role of the unit in addressing the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in South Africa.

Health research in South Africa has been plunged into crisis with the abrupt termination of several large research grants from the US, with more grant terminations expected in the coming days and weeks. Professor Ntobeko Ntusi, head of the South African Medical Research Council, tells Spotlight about efforts to find alternative funding and to preserve the country’s health research capacity.