Availability and pricing of insulin and related diagnostics in South Africa.

Background: In South Africa (SA), most patients rely on the government for free healthcare. Some choose to subscribe to a medical insurance scheme. If insulin is unavailable in government or otherwise unaffordable, non-adherence may occur, which can increase complications of the disease.

Differences in attitudes towards medication between population groups in the Durban Metropolitan Area of South Africa.

Personal factors, especially attitude, have been implicated in the utilization of health care services, and in access to medical treatment. There is little information on the attitudes of the general public in South Africa towards medications and whether attitudes differ across population groups or among the different users of the health care system. This study aimed to determine the general attitude of a local population to medications, self-care orientation and health professional contact, and whether differences existed between age groups, gender and race groups.