Evolution of Health Care System of South Africa
NAME: MAKWANYA LONDON
REG NUMBER: R043377MH
PROGRAMME MPH COHORT 2
COURSE TITLE: PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC HEALTH
LECTURER: Dr. F.N.N MUKORA-MUTSEYEKWA
DATE: 23 MARCH 2013
QUESTION:
Discuss the evolution of the health care delivery system in an African country of your choice, from the pre-colonial, colonial through to the post- independence era. In your discourse, highlight the associations between political, social, cultural and economic climates and provision of public health service.
The essay will highlight the evolution of the health care delivery system in South Africa. The development of the system will be outlined from the dependence on traditional medicine in the pre-colonial era, through an imbalanced system during the apartheid period to a two-tiered system being offered at the moment. Coovadia H, Jewkes R, Barron P, Sanders D and McIntyre D (2009), pointed out that South Africa’s history which was characterized by racial and gender discrimination, the migrant labour system, the destruction of family life, vast income inequalities have affected health and health services. WHO indicated that "a health system consists of all organizations, people and actions whose primary intent is to promote, restore or maintain health. This includes efforts to influence determinants of health as well as more direct health-improving activities”. This will shape the discussion taking into consideration that healthcare delivery has always been a transnational practice and health care planning has been described as often evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
The healthcare delivery system evolved from the pre- colonial era, through Dutch colonialism 1652- 1800, British colonialism 1800- 1910, period of segregation 1910- 1948, the apartheid years 1948-1994 to post-apartheid democracy in 1994 to date. The social, cultural and economic climate of the country was different through all these phases and the impact to health care delivery system was
REG NUMBER: R043377MH
PROGRAMME MPH COHORT 2
COURSE TITLE: PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC HEALTH
LECTURER: Dr. F.N.N MUKORA-MUTSEYEKWA
DATE: 23 MARCH 2013
QUESTION:
Discuss the evolution of the health care delivery system in an African country of your choice, from the pre-colonial, colonial through to the post- independence era. In your discourse, highlight the associations between political, social, cultural and economic climates and provision of public health service.
The essay will highlight the evolution of the health care delivery system in South Africa. The development of the system will be outlined from the dependence on traditional medicine in the pre-colonial era, through an imbalanced system during the apartheid period to a two-tiered system being offered at the moment. Coovadia H, Jewkes R, Barron P, Sanders D and McIntyre D (2009), pointed out that South Africa’s history which was characterized by racial and gender discrimination, the migrant labour system, the destruction of family life, vast income inequalities have affected health and health services. WHO indicated that "a health system consists of all organizations, people and actions whose primary intent is to promote, restore or maintain health. This includes efforts to influence determinants of health as well as more direct health-improving activities”. This will shape the discussion taking into consideration that healthcare delivery has always been a transnational practice and health care planning has been described as often evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
The healthcare delivery system evolved from the pre- colonial era, through Dutch colonialism 1652- 1800, British colonialism 1800- 1910, period of segregation 1910- 1948, the apartheid years 1948-1994 to post-apartheid democracy in 1994 to date. The social, cultural and economic climate of the country was different through all these phases and the impact to health care delivery system was
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