Reflection
One of the major problems in the health system of South Africa is the huge ratio difference between patients and hospitals/ clinics. This picture represents our health system and some of the associated problems. The tea represents the extreme number of patients in need of medical care at public hospitals. The cups are the hospitals trying to accommodate the increasing number of patients but are clearly lacking in that attempt. The saucer represents the department of health and our overall health system which can only take so much before it also overflows. With an ever-increasing population, hospitals get flooded with patients every day, causing patients to wait for hours to get medical attention. Patients feel apprehensive to go to public hospitals, not knowing if they will be helped, shown away or even contract an additional disease. There is also a very big difference in the ratio of patients to medical staff. Medical staff is in such a rush to help the sometimes-endless rows of patients that the quality of care starts to lack. Patients can access basic health care and rehabilitation care such as physiotherapy. In public hospitals there are however to many patients in relation to physiotherapists. Making it difficult for physios to attend to all patients, this results in only the critical cases getting treatment and others are shown away. Due to corruption in South Africa money does not always go to where it is most needed. State hospitals rely on money from the state and the lack there of results in dilapidated buildings, under staffed hospitals and poor medical equipment. Patients need health care, hospitals struggle to accommodate and give sufficient care, the department of health lack funds to access hospitals. Al these factors lead to an overflowing saucer and thus a failing health system.
Literature
According to sources incidences like these happens on a regular basis. According to a survey conducted it shows that 71.2% of households in South Africa make use of public clinics and hospitals. The clinic to patient ratio is 1 to 18,114 meaning for every 18,114 people there are only one clinic available. Where according to the WHO it should be 1 to 10 000(Herman, 2018). Some hospitals are overcrowded to an extend that patients need to be treated in hall ways and others lie in bed for days before receiving adequate care. Medical staff often struggle to cope under the enormous workload (Fokazi, 2013)). Medical staff reuse medical equipment, bed linen and some are very poor with hygiene when treating patients (Young, 2016) Lack of funding and resources lead to not enough equipment and staff (Young, 2016). Due to hospitals being overloaded with patients, staff sends patients away to hospitals closer to their home to distribute patients equally. Causing patients to feel neglected and stripped from their human rights (Says, 2018).
References
Fokazi, S. (2013, 09 06). IOL. Retrieved from Cape hospitals in dire straits:
https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/cape-hospitals-in-dire-straits-1574279
Herman, P. (2018, 06 22). 81% of households are satisfied with public hospitals. Retrieved from News24:
https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/81-of-households-that-use-public-healthcare-satisfied-stats-sa-20180622
Says, S. (2018, 11 07). Sowetan Live. Retrieved from:
https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/opinion/columnists/2018-11-07-hospitals-cant-refuse-patients-care/
Young, M. (2016) Private vs. Public Healthcare in South Africa. Retrieved April 20 fromhttps://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3752&context=honors_theses
One thought on “South African Health System – Nina Thierzen (3870420)”
Hi Nina! I think it is quite a strong and good metaphor you have found for this huge problem. What you are writing about is true for countries all over the world, even Norway (I’ve posted two Norwegian examples under this text if yo are interested). I do understand though that it must be a lot worse in South Africa, taking into account Norway is a wealthy oil state with roughly the same number of inhabitants as Cape Town. Anyway, the problems you are writing about are real, devastating and important to reflect on as health care personell about to enter a profession. I think your picture illustrates well the all over situation of the problem. I have a suggestion though, if you want to look at it from another angle too. I think the photo could also represent the patients feelings dealing with the system. Both in terms of being “filled to the brim” with frustration concerning the way they are treated and also the helplessness and disgust one might feel seeing the mess of these cups and the saucer and not being able to clean it up. Maybe a patient in an overloaded system like you are describing feels like they have to constantly look at this cup, but they are unable to do something about it?
Otherwise, for the final draft you might want to look at your referencing in the text. You probably know this, but depending on the type of source, you also have to list the paragraph or page you got your information from. Also, a tip I got from my boyfriend, which has helped me a lot is to read the whole text slowly out loud to myself. Then it becomes a lot more clear whether or not the sentences are to the point and easy to read. It always helps me, maybe it helps you too!
Hopefully my comments make sense and help a little! I’m grateful to have been appointed to reading your assignment – I enjoyed it. Good luck with your studies!
Best regards,
Maike
I’m sorry, these links are in Norwegian. But you can use google translate if you are interested 🙂
https://www.vg.no/forbruker/helse/i/4dXMPG/raser-mot-nedbyggingen-av-norske-sykehus-pasienters-liv-settes-i-fare
https://tidsskriftet.no/2015/03/aktuelt-i-foreningen/overfylte-sykehus-truer-pasientsikkerheten