History of South Africa: Healthcare
During the apartheid, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Physicians for Human Rights Organization:
- Blacks had little access to healthcare.
- Even if they did, quality of healthcare was low.
- They were refused emergency treatment.
- Their medical records were altered fraudulently.
- Black’s ongoing treatment would be limited or denied.
- Black mental patients were often abused.
During the apartheid, coordination between the different provinces was very poor and the healthcare system was very fragmented, causing major disparities.
There were two health care systems in South Africa: public sector (served mainly the Blacks) and private sector (served minority of people who were able to afford it, mostly Whites and Asians). Most governmental funds that were directed to constructing hospitals, clinics and research labs etc. would be used in the urban parts of the nation, such as the Western Cape, where majority of the people are Whites and Asians who are privately insured. They neglect the other rural parts of the nation such as the Eastern Cape where there is higher percentage of Blacks and Coloureds who rely greatly on the public health care system.
Most medical specialists came from the urban parts of the nation, where higher tiers of education were provided, and where people there can afford it. Hence, a majority of them prefer to work in the private sector due to its proximity and profitability. This resulted in the lack of medical professionals supporting the pubic sector especially in rural areas of the nation.
There were marked disparities in healthcare between Blacks and Whites during apartheid:
Life Expectancy
Life Expectancy during the apartheid was around 52% as seen in the graph below.
Life Expectancy during the apartheid was around 52% as seen in the graph below.
• Most deaths were caused by HIVs/Aids (tuberculosis, influenza and pneumonia, infections related with HIV/AIDS).
• Government's efforts and treatment programs failed to reach others that were infect, especially in rural areas.
• This caused an increasing number of orphans as a result of HIV/AIDS.
• Deaths due to HIV/AIDS (per 100 000 population): 535
(IRIN, 2014)
Health Care Inadequate for Poor Blacks, World-Class for Whites.
• Government's efforts and treatment programs failed to reach others that were infect, especially in rural areas.
• This caused an increasing number of orphans as a result of HIV/AIDS.
• Deaths due to HIV/AIDS (per 100 000 population): 535
(IRIN, 2014)
Health Care Inadequate for Poor Blacks, World-Class for Whites.