A Review of the South African Health Sector
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The public health sector of South Africa has frequently made in-
ternational headlines in the last ten years. The health of the
nation is characterised by a quadruple burden of disease, with
the impact of HIV/AIDS adding to the combination of a high in-
jury burden, conditions related to underdevelopment and chronic
diseases.
Although spending on health in the public sector in 2005/6 is
projected to increase by R 8.7 billion in real terms over a dec-
ade, much of the funding has been absorbed by HIV/AIDS, medical
inflation and relatively higher salaries which has resulted in
real expenditure per capita stagnating. On a positive note, 94%
of pregnant women receive antenatal care and there has been an
improvement in the quality and quantity of health related data
for planning and policy formulation purposes.
These are some of the findings contained in the 9th South Afri-
can Health Review (SAHR) released on Wednesday 28 July 2004 by
the Health Systems Trust.
The Review sets out to provide a critical reflection on the pro-
gress towards making health services available to all South Af-
ricans over the past ten years and covers developments in the
legislative arena over the past decade, trends in the well being
of South Africans, infectious diseases such as tuberculosis,
HIV/AIDS, cholera and broader health system issues such as human
resources and financing.
Also launched together with the SAHR, was the National Primary
Health Care Facilities Survey. In keeping with the data anchored
focus of the Review, The Facilities Survey describes the status
of the country's PHC services through a variety of indicators.
Indicators include availability of essential equipment, immuni-
sation service provision, and response time of emergency medical
transport. Key indicators suggest that the commissioning of new
PHC facilities is likely to have improved access to PHC services
for many South Africans. However, the Survey also shows that
substantial inter-provincial inequities continue to exist.
The SAHR and the Facilities Survey can be found on the HST web
sites:
http://www.hst.org.za (Press release)
http://www.hst.org.za/generic/29 (South African Health Review)
http://www.hst.org.za/uploads/files/chap1_03.pdf (Excecutive
Summary SAHR)
http://www.hst.org.za/publications/617 (National Primary Health
Care Facilities Survey)
For more information contact
Ashnie Padarath: +27-31-3072954 or +27-83-314-5191
To order SAHR copies contact
Khululiwe Mfayela at the resource centre at
+27-31-3072954 or
mailto:cynthia@hst.org.za
or order through the web at:
http://www.hst.org.za/generic/57
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Fiorenza Monticelli
Health Systems Trust
HealthLink Editor
Tel: +27-31-307-2954
Fax: +27-31-304-0775
mailto:fiorenza@hst.org.za
http://www.hst.org.za