Abstract
M.Com. (Economics)
Access to health care is a basic human right in South Africa. Primary health care is
viewed by the South African government as the means to improving access to health care
in the country. The concept of primary health care is based on the importance of first
contact with a primary health worker. The Department of Health introduced free primary
health care because it believes that the most significant barrier to access to health care is
poverty. When a service is provided for free there is no income generated from user fees
and the issue of funding becomes very important. This study performs an analysis of the
free primary health care programme in South Africa and how it is financed.
An important feature that characterizes South Africa is high inequality which is reflected
in the high level ofpreventable diseases as well as high incidents of chronic diseases. The
implementation of free primary health care has led to improved access to health care and
somewhat improved the health status of the South African population.
In order to address the inequalities in the health sector there must be funding targeted
towards the needs of the poor. Government's fiscal policy places limits on the expansion
of public expenditure, which poses a strain on resources flowing to the health sector. In
addition to that there has not been a significant shift of funds from higher levels of care to
primary health care. The funding issue will need to be urgently resolved for primary
health care to be sustainable...