Dr Lutge is the manager of the Epidemiology, Health Research and Knowledge Management Unit at the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health. In this capacity, Dr Lutge has been able to foster collaborative partnerships in health research in KZN and in doing so established the Umgungundlovu Health Ethics Review Board. During her management of the Epidemiology Unit she has been able to fill important gaps in health information in KZN and conducted studies on National Health Insurance and Primary Health Care Re-engineering.