Skip to main content
NeoHealth

Editorial Policy

Version 1.0 · Published 24 April 2026

This page documents how NeoHealth writes, reviews, and maintains the health information on this site. If you have ever wondered who writes this content, who checks it, or how often it is updated, this is the honest answer.

Who writes

All clinical content is written by or with Dr Ethan Chellan, MBChB (Stellenbosch University), Diploma in HIV Management (CMSA), Diploma in Child Health (CMSA), FPD Clinical Management of Mental Health, and Dr Claudia Lakay, MBChB (Stellenbosch University). Both are dispensing general practitioners at NeoHealth in George, Western Cape, and are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA MP0890820 and MP0941573).

Articles are not produced by a content agency, ghostwritten, or AI-generated without clinician review. Every piece of clinical information on this site has been written or verified by the named reviewing clinician before publication.

Who reviews

Articles carry a visible "Medically reviewed by" line at the top, naming the reviewing clinician and their relevant postgraduate credential for that topic. The convention is one topic-relevant credential per byline, not a credential list.

  • HIV articles: reviewed by Dr Chellan, citing Diploma in HIV Management (CMSA).
  • Paediatric and child health articles: reviewed by Dr Chellan, citing Diploma in Child Health (CMSA).
  • Mental health articles: reviewed by Dr Chellan, citing FPD Clinical Management of Mental Health.
  • Women's health and aesthetics articles: reviewed by Dr Lakay, MBChB only.
  • General medicine articles: reviewed by either clinician, MBChB only.
  • HIV in pregnancy: dual-reviewed by both clinicians.

This convention exists to match the reviewer's credential to the topic. It is not a simplification of full qualifications, which are listed in full on each doctor's About page.

How we source

Articles are built on current peer-reviewed clinical guidelines. Where a guideline exists for the South African context, it is used first. International guidelines are used where local guidance has not yet been issued or where the international source is the authoritative reference.

Primary sources include:

  • Southern African HIV Clinicians Society (SAHCS) guidelines for HIV testing, treatment, PEP, PrEP, and PMTCT.
  • South African National Department of Health (NDoH) Knowledge Hub for standard treatment guidelines and the Essential Medicines List.
  • Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa (SEMDSA) for diabetes guidelines.
  • World Health Organization (WHO) consolidated guidelines for infectious disease, non-communicable disease, and reproductive health.
  • American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care.
  • European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and American College of Cardiology guidelines for cardiovascular medicine.
  • IAS-USA antiretroviral treatment and prevention recommendations.
  • USPSTF recommendations for preventive services.
  • Peer-reviewed primary literature (PubMed-indexed) where it changes practice or clarifies evidence.

Deep articles carry inline citations to specific sources at the point of clinical claims, and a complete Sources and references section at the end listing all authorities consulted. This follows the convention used by UpToDate, BMJ Best Practice, and Mayo Clinic patient resources.

Review cadence

Every article carries two visible dates: the original publication date and the most recent update date. Articles are reviewed on the following schedule:

  • HIV and infectious disease articles: annually, or sooner if major guideline updates are issued.
  • Chronic disease articles (diabetes, hypertension): every 18 months, or sooner if major guideline updates are issued.
  • Women's health articles: every 18 months.
  • Paediatric and vaccine articles: annually, due to EPI schedule changes and emerging evidence.
  • Mental health articles: every 24 months.
  • General medicine articles: every 24 months.

When an article is updated, the "Updated" date is changed, the relevant section is rewritten, and any new citations are added. Substantive changes that alter a recommendation are noted in the section where the change occurs.

What we do not do

We do not accept sponsored content, paid placements, or advertising revenue. No article on this site has been paid for by a pharmaceutical company, medical device company, or supplement manufacturer. Clinical recommendations are made on clinical grounds, not commercial grounds.

We do not use brand names for medications when generic names exist. We do not recommend specific branded products. We do not link out to commercial retailers.

We do not publish content about conditions we do not treat. Our scope reflects our clinical practice.

We do not make overclaims about our qualifications. Dr Chellan is a general practitioner with postgraduate training in child health and HIV, not a specialist paediatrician or infectious disease physician. Dr Lakay is a general practitioner with a women's health focus, not a gynaecologist. These distinctions matter and are made explicit in every relevant article.

Corrections

If you find factual errors, outdated information, or unclear wording on any page, contact us. Corrections are made promptly. Substantive changes to clinical information trigger an updated "Updated" date and a note in the affected section.

Scope of medical advice

Everything on this site is general health information. It is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare provider who knows your specific clinical context. If you need personalised medical advice, book a consultation.

This page, last reviewed

This editorial policy was first published on 24 April 2026 and will be reviewed annually or when editorial practice changes. The current version is 1.0.