The right of access to health care services : prospects and challenges

Abstract

In the 18th years of our young but thriving democracy, several programmes were established to improve access to health care for disadvantaged groups in South Africa. Although numerous studies have been conducted examining trends on access to health care, considerable controversy remains. Nearly all authors concur that important progress has been made, and that gaps in access to health care narrowed considerably. Some however, go further and conclude that the evidence indicates that all significant gaps have been eliminated and access to health care is universally shared. Evidence on access to health care has important policy implications. If the task of assuming access to health care has been largely accomplished, further expansion of South African health care programmes to promote access would be unwarranted. If selected population groups lag behind others in access to health care, targeted policies to close remaining gaps may be warranted. The introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme call for the health reform in South Africa and it will change the whole health sector and offers equal benefits on access to quality health care services to everyone in South Africa.