South Africa: A Health Hazard?
A nation and a health system under extra pressure from a quadruple health burden, requires extraordinary effort. South Africa has many of the essential ingredients in place to save hundreds of thousands of lives – will we act in time?
That is the opening statement on the cover of the Executive Summary of the “Health in South Africa” series released by one of the worlds leading medical journals; The Lancet. Contributors to this series include some of the most progressive South African health experts. The series does not make for happy reading.
Some of the major outcomes (our shortcomings) of the series are diagrammed in the image below (click to view in full):
The series notes:
- what is in essence a systematic breakdown in the health provision structure in South Africa.
- that incompetence and political loyalty has been rewarded as opposed to the ability to deliver, and
- Unprofessional behaviour in state facilities through rudeness, uncaring and even physical assault
The authors of the series are supportive of:
- a back to basics approach to primary health care
- investment at the foundation of health care
- the proposed National Health Insurance
Below is the National Department of Healths Strategic Plan, worth viewing.