Future Of: Diabetes data

This episode of The Best of 702 Weekend Breakfast explores the launch of South Africa's first national diabetes dashboard, a groundbreaking digital system designed to improve diabetes care across the public health sector. Hosted by Cooks, the discussion features Dr. Sia Bonga Koza, Head of Chemical Pathology at the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and Wits University, who explains how the dashboard aggregates real-time HbA1c data from over 80% of South Africa’s public healthcare facilities. With an estimated 4 million diagnosed cases and another 2 million undiagnosed individuals, the system aims to address the country’s growing burden of diabetes by enabling timely interventions, identifying treatment gaps, and guiding resource allocation. The dashboard was developed through a strategic partnership between NHLS, the Department of Health, and the Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub, ensuring user-friendly design and clinical relevance. The episode highlights the transformative potential of this data-driven approach, particularly in enabling patient mobility—allowing individuals to access care across provinces with their medical history intact. While the system currently focuses on diabetes due to the availability of a standardized lab test (HbA1c), Dr. Koza notes the challenges in applying the same model to other non-communicable diseases like hypertension, which lack a single, universal diagnostic test. The data remains securely housed within NHLS, adhering to strict privacy protocols, and is intended to support national strategic planning, clinical decision-making, and equitable healthcare delivery. The conversation underscores the importance of real-time data in public health and sets a precedent for future digital health innovations in South Africa.