Medicine and health care in South Africa - five years later

Article Abstract:

Changes in medicine and health care in South Africa over the past five years are reviewed. Information about the health of black patients is limited because of underreporting, wide differences in health statistics between urban and rural areas, and a long history of disinterest in the health status of blacks. However, modern epidemiologic techniques are being used to study health in black communities, infant death rates, and the incidence (number of new cases) of tuberculosis in specific areas. Although health policy in South Africa has not changed extensively within the past five years, a common disapproval of apartheid and its effects on health, human welfare, and dignity exists. Problems of inequity and inappropriate use of resources will be difficult to solve with the lack of a unified health administrative system. Persons with health insurance have access to excellent hospital and ambulatory care in the private sector, whereas all people can receive medical care at teaching and public hospitals. In general, private health care facilities are growing, whereas public and teaching hospitals are not expanding, and are becoming overwhelmed by the increasing demand for health care services by the public. The number of health professionals and number of blacks admitted to medical schools have increased. The selection criteria for admission to medical school has changed to increase the ethnic and sexual diversity of medical students, while maintaining academic competence. The medical curriculum has changed with greater emphasis on small group teaching, primary health care, epidemiology, medical ethics, health economics, the structures of health care services, and study of various aspects of the African culture. As in the United States, health care costs are rising and the percentage of the gross national product spent on health care is increasing. Although support for a unified health service system is increasing, the government favors a private health care industry. The limitations of economic resources must be recognized before changes to improve the health care in South Africa can occur. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Reports, Demographic aspects, Epidemiological research, Cross sectional studies, Vital statistics

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Health care reform in the new South Africa

Article Abstract:

Health care reform in South Africa could threaten teaching hospitals and medical schools. During apartheid, extensive health care discrimination existed, with poor blacks receiving far fewer services than whites. Following the introduction of democracy in 1994, the government has sought to reverse this discrimination by building 780 community clinics by the year 2000. However, the money to fund these clinics will come from the budgets of the medical schools, which are all publicly funded. Meanwhile, the private sector still flourishes.

Health care reform

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Health care reform and the crisis of HIV and AIDS in South Africa

Article Abstract:

South Africa is a democracy but the health care system is not adequately functional. Africa has 5 million people affected with HIV and the government is making various efforts to control the spread of this disease.

Forecasts, trends, outlooks, South Africa, Public affairs, Labor Distribution by Employer, Health aspects, Social aspects, Forecasts and trends, Statistics, HIV (Viruses), HIV, Market trend/market analysis

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