South Africa

South Africaʹs peaceful transition from the race-based apartheid system which excluded more than 80% of its citizens to a full participative democracy was marked by worldwide admiration for the nationʹs achievement. The new-found pride and optimism of the “rainbow nation” led by President Nelson Mandela has been tested by the practicalities of writing a new rights-based constitution, the many acts of parliament required to undo apartheid, and the realisation that the previous government had run up a massive debt. The implementation of new dispensations for health and science has been limited by the need for fiscal discipline. In this profile of South African medicine The Lancetʹs guide was Prof Ralph Kirsch.