Winners of Discovery Health Journalism Awards announced

The independent judging panel described her work as demonstrating excellent writing skills, an ability to use a diversity of relevant sources and good research, which leaves her readers well informed about the issues as well as their context. While she shines a torch on official neglect, she also highlights the heroism of individual doctors working tirelessly in the most difficult of conditions to serve the people.

Healthcare becoming central issue

According to Discovery Health chief executive officer Dr Jonathan Broomberg, healthcare is becoming an increasingly central issue in society. "Healthcare reporting spans health economics, the regulatory environment and consumer health issues - to name but a few. Reporting on these wide reaching and sometimes emotive issues is often complex.

"We would like to salute all journalists who are highlighting critical healthcare issues with flair, passion and professionalism, especially the finalists and winners of this year's awards."

Prof Tawana Kupe, convenor of the judging panel, said the panel was "pleased by the number of entries focusing on systemic problems in the healthcare system, an interesting dimension of this year's entries was a particular focus on those doctors who choose despite the difficult conditions to serve in rural health facilities."

Winners

• Best Health News Reporting - Katharine Child, The Times, Live-saving Drug on Hold
  
• Best Health Television Reporting - Amalia Christoforou and Wynand Grobler, Carte Blanche, Smart Drugs
  
• Best Health Radio Journalism - Ayanda Mkwananzi, Health-e News Service for SAFM, I am now a Conqueror
  
• Best Health Analysis and Commentary - Antoinette Pienaar, Beeld, Etiek van Stamselle
  
• Best Health Economics - Tamar Kahn, Business Day, Rising Fees at Public Hospitals
  
• Best Investigative Journalism - Estelle Brits and Eugene Coetzee, The Herald, A Right gone Wrong
  
• Best Health Journalism: Foreign Media - Darren Taylor, Voice of America, The Near-Absence of Health Care Delivery in Rural South Africa
  
• Best Healthy Lifestyle Feature - Lindsay Ord, Daily News, Barefoot Running ... is less really more?
  
• Best Health Consumer Reporting and Feature Writing - Mia Malan, Mail & Guardian, Rural hospitals in terminal crisis
  
• loveLife Young Health Journalist of the Year - Fathima Simjee