South Africa

Citation

(2003), "South Africa", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 16 No. 7. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2003.06216gab.011

South Africa

South AfricaKeywords: Disability, Health care, South Africa

In July it was announced that people with disability could now access health-care services in public health facilities free of charge. The new service is provided as part of the Government's efforts to expand services to people in need of social support announced by the President during the State of the Nation address in February.

The beneficiaries of the services will be people with permanent, moderate or severe disability; those with chronic irreversible psychiatric disability, frail older people and long-term institutionalised state-subsidised patients.

Qualifying people with disability will get all in and out patient hospital services free of charge and all assistive devices for prevention of complications, cure or rehabilitation of a disability will be provided, including orthotics and prosthetics, wheelchairs and walking-aids, hearing-aids, spectacles and intra-ocular lenses. The Department will also be responsible for maintenance and replacement of these devices.

Minister of Health, Dr MantoTshabalala-Msimang, said:

"The addition of free health care for people with disability is yet another major initiative we are undertakingto improve the health status of our people, especially the poor andvulnerable sections of ourpopulation."