ACCESS TO healthcare varies greatly in different countries across the world and is largely influenced by social and economic conditions , as well as each county ’ s health policies . Total expenditure on healthcare in South Africa accounts for 8.8 % of its annual gross domestic product ( GDP ) compared to World Health Organisation ( WHO ) figures , which indicate the worldwide provision of healthcare related products and services averages 10 % of GDP .
HEALTHCARE
MEDICAL MATTERS IS THE STANDARD OF HEALTHCARE IN SA AND ISRAEL MEETING THE NEEDS OF ITS CITIZENS ? ROBYN SHAPIRO
and essential medical equipment and incompetent management , there is a chronic shortage of qualified doctors and nurses , which makes the country ’ s situation much worse . More than 70 % of SA ’ s medical staff work in private healthcare facilities . Healthcare monitor groups , like the Health Consumer Powerhouse , consistently rate SA ’ s public health sector among the worst in the world . That is despite the fact that the South African government spends $ 13.3 billion each year on the health service . And that is one of the biggest expenditures in the developing world .
ACCESS TO healthcare varies greatly in different countries across the world and is largely influenced by social and economic conditions , as well as each county ’ s health policies . Total expenditure on healthcare in South Africa accounts for 8.8 % of its annual gross domestic product ( GDP ) compared to World Health Organisation ( WHO ) figures , which indicate the worldwide provision of healthcare related products and services averages 10 % of GDP .
In SA , private and public health systems exist in parallel . The public system serves the vast majority of the population , but is chronically underfunded and understaffed . Even though private healthcare is only available to a very small section of the South African society ( 16.3 %), it still accounts for a disproportionate 52 % of the total expenditure on healthcare . Private healthcare in SA is expensive and relatively inaccessible to the majority of South Africans . With scheme contributions by members increasing at an alarming pace , and out-of-pocket expenses by members showing double-digit growth , private healthcare affordability is set to remain a big challenge .
Rural area healthcare is only getting worse . Currently , SA ’ s infant mortality rate is six times higher than in the OECD countries . Apart from the high burden of infectious diseases , a lack of much-needed medicines
“ The biggest problem with the public sector is the ratio of population to care available .” – Shaun Spruch , Terem paramedic in Israel
“ The public health service in South Africa is not very effective when compared to the private sector ,” says Shaun Spruch , who previously worked as an Advanced Life Support ( ALS ) paramedic at Hatzolah SA . He recently made aliyah , where he works at Terem Urgent Care as a paramedic . “ The biggest problem with the public sector is the ratio of population to care available . There is a massive population and a very limited amount of public healthcare . This ends up causing incredibly long waiting periods for access to healthcare in general .”
“ Unfortunately , in SA , both the public and private healthcare systems face issues ,” says a South African public health doctor who has been in the healthcare service for more than 35 years . “ Having worked in both public and private healthcare systems , and having been a patient , along with other family members in the private healthcare system , there are pros and cons to both . Private healthcare exhorts exorbitant fees from its patients and does not always result in better care . I have seen as good care in certain situations in public hospitals . Both sectors experience a shortage of beds , medicines , nursing staff and doctors , due to high rates of infectious diseases , an exodus of good doctors soon after qualifying in SA , and a misappropriation of funds by government . So thinking that you are going to get better healthcare by paying for private services is not always the case . You may have a better environment , as the hospitals are cleaner and more modern , but that does not necessarily mean better healthcare or equipment in working order .
“ Ultimately , it comes down to the dedication of the nursing staff and doctors and how willing they are to treat them and fight for what their patients need . The public healthcare system has incredible doctors and
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