By Charmaine Ndlela
South Africa has taken a major step in tackling one of the country’s leading causes of death by launching its first National Diabetes Dashboard, designed to give healthcare workers near-real-time data on patient management.
The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Health, National Priority Programmes and the Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub, developed the National Diabetes HbA1c Dashboard to strengthen the country’s response to diabetes.
The NHLS said this week that the dashboard marked a significant breakthrough in tackling diabetes, which Stats SA has identified as the country’s leading underlying natural cause of death in 2023.
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The platform integrates expertise from the NHLS Corporate Data Warehouse, National Priority Programmes and the Department of Chemical Pathology at the University of the Witwatersrand.
NHLS CEO Professor Koleka Mlisana said the system uses laboratory data from across the country to provide a near real-time view of diabetes control.
“This platform transforms how we use laboratory data from retrospective reporting to real-time action. It equips healthcare workers with the information needed to respond faster and improve patient outcomes,” she said.
According to the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) latest country estimates, South Africa’s adult diabetes prevalence stands at 7.2%, with about 2.3 million adults aged 20 to 79 living with the condition. The IDF estimates that about 1.6 million of these cases are undiagnosed.
Globally, WHO says about 830 million people were living with diabetes in 2022, with more than half of those affected not taking medication for the condition.
The NHLS said the launch comes amid growing calls for urgent and coordinated action, as diabetes is increasingly recognised as a national health crisis.
For the first time, the dashboard offers a near real-time nationwide view of diabetes control, with laboratory data refreshed within 48 hours. This enables healthcare workers to identify high-risk patients earlier and intervene before complications develop.
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Previously, diabetes data was shared through monthly Excel reports, which required manual analysis and often delayed interventions. The new system replaces this with continuously updated data accessible to healthcare practitioners across the country.
“This dashboard represents a significant leap forward in how we use laboratory data to improve patient care. Innovation is central to the NHLS strategy, and this platform demonstrates our commitment to strengthening the health system,” Mlisana said.
The dashboard is also expected to strengthen accountability by allowing health authorities to monitor trends across provinces and target interventions where they are most needed.
The initiative also supports South Africa’s National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2022–2027, which aims for at least 50% of patients on treatment to achieve diabetes control.
“By providing near real-time insights, we are empowering healthcare workers to respond faster, intervene earlier, and ultimately improve outcomes for patients living with diabetes,” Mlisana said.
The dashboard is now accessible to healthcare practitioners nationwide, giving frontline workers the tools needed to deliver faster, more effective care.
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