CHELSEA – SLOAN SAMUELS (3633406)
“You can look in the mirror and find a million things wrong with yourself. Or you can look in the mirror and think, I have my health, and I’m so blessed. “– Ilsa fisher
The above quote is an expression of the two healthcare sectors in South Africa. Finding a million things wrong is directed at the private sector wheres having health and just feeling blessed are for those from the public sector, just being grateful to even be lucky enough to receive medical attention.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
The South African health system has been described as a two-tiered system divided along socioeconomic lines” (Republic of South Africa Health Department, 2015, p.1). The health care in South Africa is divided into private or public sector and there is a major gap between private and public healthcare in South Africa.
In this image that I chose, the people represent both doctors and patients. The dual function that these people represent is the way in which these different systems work. With public hospitals, as seen in the picture, one health professional to help the hundreds of people by providing them medical attention. Now, flip the mirror and look at it in this way, in the private sector, it is one person being consulted and cared for by many health professionals in order to maintain their health issues. These vast differences are an indication that private healthcare is solely for the wealthy and entitled population of South Africa, and public healthcare is for the poor. There is no middle ground. The wide gap between these two sectors is a significant problem in South Africa.
I chose this picture because it is a description of the way in which things are the complete opposite between the two sectors. The one side of the mirror being the private facility having advantages, which makes health care seem like a holiday and feels more like a fancy hotel than a wellness centre , whereas on the flip side the public sector has disadvantages making healthcare the least of a persons priorities due to the tedious experiences and outcomes once seen such as infections with it appearing more warehouse-like than a hospitals.
ACADEMIC LITERATURE:
Government funded healthcare is offered to all citizens of South Africa for free, yet citizens can opt to purchase private insurance in order to be treated at private hospitals and health clinics. Those opting obviously being those who are wealthy and are able to afford to pay for the best healthcare possibly and mainly because these people are able to pay their ways out of the disadvantages brought by public sectors.
The advantages of public healthcare include free care to all citizens, including pharmaceuticals, wheelchairs, crutches, toilet seats, etc. Due to the high amount of impoverished communities in South Africa, free healthcare benefits those who can pay or afford healthcare. The disadvantages of public healthcare are long wait times, poor quality of care compared to private healthcare, rushed appointments, old facilities, and poor disease control with no prevention control, therefore patients are more susceptible to infections, degenerating their initial condition before seeking medical attention.
These patients receive services such as physiotherapy treatment for example in a room that is shared with other health professionals. The beds sectioned off with curtains for privacy during appointments however, conversations from each table could still be heard clearly throughout the room. Professionals are only able to spend fifteen to thirty minutes with each patient because of the high patient demand, and they are forced to rush through appointments and not spend adequate time with each patient. Many patients need resources to take home after their appointments, such as wheelchairs and crutches, in public hospitals, these resources are provided to patients for free, but there however is only a certain amount and is always a lack of resources within the stock room and the therapist is then forced to send many patients home empty handed.
Private healthcare is much different than public healthcare. The government does not fund private healthcare, so citizens must purchase their own private insurance in order to be treated at a private healthcare facility. This is the disadvantage of the private healthcare sector, that it is expensive and patients are responsible for paying for healthcare visits, pharmaceuticals, and additional resources such as wheelchairs or crutches. Frankly, the following pros outweigh these cons, the advantages of private healthcare are short wait times, quality care, better facilities, and adequate resources available, appointments are not rushed, and proper disease control and prevention practices are utilized.
In terms of patients receiving services or treatment, using physiotherapy as an example for comparison, there would only be one other person in the waiting room when you wait to be seen by a professional in the waiting room with the facility being quiet, clean, and richly furnished. The therapist for maximum has three patients to see this day because they block out at least one hour for each patient. This way, each patient gets the attention and care they deserve. The therapist is able to spend adequate time with each patient and document their appointments thoroughly afterwards and refer them to another doctor where they are seen to on the exact same day.
In conclusion there are vast differences and no middle ground between these sectors, with private healthcare being merely for the wealthy population of South Africa, and public healthcare is for the poor.
REFERENCES:
Young, M. (2916, June 24). Private vs. Public Healthcare in South Africa (Master’s thesis, Western Michigan University, 2016). ScholarWorks at WMU.
The Pros and Cons of Public vs. Private Hospitals. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2019, from https://www.npinstitute.com/public-vs-private-hospitals-s/1852.htm
Patel, A. D. (n.d.). A World Of Difference Between Private And Public Healthcare In South Africa. Retrieved May 2, 2018, from https://www.thedailyvox.co.za/a-world-of-difference-between-private-and-public-healthcare-in-south-africa/
One thought on “MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL”
I find it interesting how you compare the two sectors. You manage to tell alot about the big differences in a manner that is easy to read. This gave me a better idea of the healthcare system in South Africa. It got me thinking about how this is relatable to the Norwegian system as well. Many people forget how lucky we are, and the more you get the more you want is a very common attitude.
Have you considered explaining why you chose the picture earlier on? I think the quote relates well to the text, and by explaining why you chose the picture right after the quote I think it would make it easier to relate the picture to the text as well. I would also like to know where in the text you used the different references. I see you did once, but maybe also fill in the other two?
Regardless I like how you use the flipping of the mirror to explain how different it is to contact the private and the public healthcare system. And how this separates the wealthy from the poor.
I think your piece is very good 🙂 Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the South African healthcare system and thank you for the good response on my work!