[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”!! PLEASE DO NOT EDIT !!!” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ admin_label=”!!! PLEASE DO NOT EDIT !!!” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
South Africa\u2019s health outcomes mark great strides towards universal health coverage (UHC). World Bank Group data<\/a> show that by 2022, life expectancy rose from 58 in 2000 to 61 years and under 5 mortality dropped from 71 to 35 deaths per 1000 live births. Whereas, maternal mortality fell from 173 to 127 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2020. The country still faces a high burden of HIV\/AIDS, tuberculosis and a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases. As a report on the quality of health care<\/a> in South Africa explains, people in poverty are disproportionately affected (see pages 5-6).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][ba_gradient_heading title=”South Africa’s fragmented health system and access” html_tag=”h3″ primary_color=”#455A64″ secondary_color=”#455A64″ admin_label=”HEADING (50-60 characters)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” title_font_size=”26px” title_line_height=”1em” custom_padding=”15px||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_gradient_heading][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 2 ” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Historical inequalities in South Africa led to a two-tiered and significantly fragmented health system based on socioeconomic status, according to a <\/span>household survey<\/span><\/a>. This resulted in unequal access to health care, with the public sector serving the <\/span>71.5% of the population<\/span><\/a> who cannot afford private health care.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 4 ” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n South Africa has tried to increase the share of domestic health resources from 51.33% to 60.38% in 2021, according to a study reported in Development Southern Africa<\/a>. In 2021, the country\u2019s per capita expenditure<\/a> of US$ 583.67 exceeded the average per capita expenditure in middle-income countries. Nevertheless, the authors add, disease burden and financial and nonfinancial resources have not improved. They conclude: for the majority of South Africans, the cost of medical schemes<\/a> is a barrier, with only 16% of the population covered by a medical scheme.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][ba_gradient_heading title=”Aiming for UHC through national health insurance” html_tag=”h3″ primary_color=”#455A64″ secondary_color=”#455A64″ admin_label=” HEADING (50-60 characters)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” title_font_size=”26px” title_line_height=”1em” custom_padding=”15px||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_gradient_heading][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n South Africa\u2019s constitution<\/a> guarantees every citizen access to health services through the public and private health sectors, yet inequalities persist. To address them and advance UHC, the NHI bill<\/a> was signed into law on 15 May 2024, aiming to introduce a legislative framework directed at creating a single framework for public pooling and strategic purchasing of high quality and accessible health care for all citizens regardless of socioeconomic status, based on equity and social solidarity.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n NHI will operate as a strategic purchaser of personal health services<\/a> for the population, with contributions from employers and employees that will be pooled. South Africa\u2019s minister of health stated that this \u201csets us on a course that enables us to guarantee that every South African will have the right to access comprehensive healthcare services, free at the point of use\u201d.[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 9 – Footnotes” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”13px” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]References<\/strong><\/p>\n\n