Universal Health Care is a proponent of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which was the driving force into achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. The South African legislative framework supports the quest for universal health coverage, or to be less ambitious, that of purely quality health care for all citizens. Despite some shortcomings South Africa has invested a lot into making sure that these rights are upheld. But on analysis on whether the implementation of these rights has undertaken, most countries fail the test dismally, including the health sectors in most of these countries. The International Bill of Rights, of which most national constitutions are based on, awards human beings the most incredible freedoms. However, being afforded the right to something does not necessarily translate into getting the service, more so the quality of care. These provisions include reproductive health, emergency services, basic health care for children and medical services for detained individuals and prisoners (South African National Constitutional Assembly, 1996).
Three sections in the South African constitution provide for the right to health care services. The 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognised the right to health as a human right (United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 1996). The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights article 25 also mentions health as part of the right to an adequate standard of living (United Nations, 1948). The WHO further state that the right to health is a fundamental part of our human rights and of our understanding of life in dignity. The World Health Organisation constitution articulates ‘the highest standard attainable standard of health as a fundamental right of every human being’, with the right to health including access to timely, acceptable, and affordable health care of appropriate quality (United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights World Health Organisation, 2008). The government may need to stop being reactive but proactive in addressing the inequality that is fuelling the lack of access for a majority of the populationĭeputy Director, Strategic Planning Unit (Health Economist) at Western Cape Department of Health, South Africa Factors Influencing Access to Health Care in South Africa The National Health Insurance offers hope to the disadvantaged but it will not be ready anytime soon leaving the current health care arrangements with their own vulnerability needing continued revamping. South Africa has a lot of improvements to make in terms of population’s physical accessibility, financial protection and acceptability of the current public health care system. News Flash 444: Weekly Snapshot of Public Health Challenges.News Flash 445: Weekly Snapshot of Public Health Challenges.News Flash 446: Weekly Snapshot of Public Health Challenges.News Flash 447: Weekly Snapshot of Public Health Challenges.IN THE SPOTLIGHT: column by Pietro Dionisio.
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