Health Journalism Awards finalists announced

"We were please with the overall quality and we encourage health journalists to continue to uphold the highest standards of journalism in strengthening our country's health system and making health information accessible to many South Africans in everyday language," says Prof Tawana Kupe, convener of the judging panel.

Discovery Health CEO, Dr Jonathan Broomberg says the awards aim to raise the standard and quantity of health reporting in South Africa by promoting and recognising excellent work that journalists produce.

Finalists in each category

• Best Health Economics Journalism

1. Mia Malan, Ina Skosana and Amy Green, Mail & Guardian, Dummy guide to Medical tariffs
2. Andile Makholwa, Financial Mail, Bitter Pill? Motsoaledi's mission to curb private health costs

• Best Analysis and Commentary Writing

1. Pieter-Louis Myburg, Rapport, Nuwe gesig, nuwe hoop
2. Chris Bateman, SA Medical Journey, A Cuban trainee's journey and Doctors shortages: Unpacking the 'Cuban' solution

• Best Health News Reporting

1. Tamar Khan, Business Day, Plans for public hospitals raising eyebrows
2. Pieter-Louis Myburg - Rapport, Nuwe Gesig, Nuwe Hoop

• Best Investigative News Reporting

1. Ina Skosana, Mail & Guardian, Mothers haunted by hospital hell
2. Zinhle Mapumulo, Jeanne van der Mervwe, Thanuxolo Jika, City Press, The damaged generation

• Best Health Lifestyle Feature

1. Lydia van der Merwe, Sarie, Fokus on ADHD
2. Riette Grobler, Die Burger, Brein soos 'n resiesmotor

• Best Health Consumer Reporting and Feature Writing

1. Lydia van der Merwe, Sarie, Depressie
2. Mia Malan, Mail & Guardian, If they are raped then so what

• Best Foreign Media - judging entries in this category proved to be difficult, and we felt there was only one entry worthy of being recognised for this category.

• Best Radio Health Journalism

1. Siphosethu Stuurman, SABC Radio, Young and living with HIV
2. Sisi Segalo, SABC Radio Maternal

• Best Television Health Journalism

1. Julie Laurenz and Terence Pillay, Carte Blanche, Addington Hospital saga
2. Paula Chowles, eNCA, The cost of patent laws

• Young up and coming Journalist of the Year

1. Ina Skosana, Mail & Guardian, Mothers haunted by hospital hell
2. Siphosethu Stuurman, SABC, Various

• Discovery Foundation Nation Builder Award

1. Katharine Child, The Times, Orange Farm gives world hope
2. Ina Skosana, Mail & Guardian, SA's midwives chart new course

This year a new category, 'Discovery Foundation Nation Builder, was added to the Awards. Each category winner will receive R25,000 and the overall winner, the Discovery Health Journalist of the Year, will walk away with a prize of R75,000.