Enforcing the right of access to healthcare services in South Africa

Abstract

The right to have access to health care services is enshrined in section 27 of the South African Constitution of 1996 as one of the socio-economic rights protected by this Constitution. In order to observe the entitlements in this human right, the South African government has since 1994, embarked on legislation, policies and programmes to improve access to health care services among vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in South Africa. As a result of the measures put in place by the government, enormous progress has been registered since their enforcement, in respect of access to health care services. However, as evident in some reports such as the 7th Report on Economic and Social Rights by the South African Human Rights Commission and studies conducted by the Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute (SPII), it is revealed that the measures adopted by the government to improve access to health care services have not effectively translated the entitlements of this right to the population of South Africa. This study is motivated by the disclosure of these concerns, irrespective of the measures put in place by the government to achieve universal access to health care services. The study therefore aims at stressing the importance of upholding the right to have access to health care services in the social transformation process of South Africa. In doing so, it will investigate current health care reforms in South Africa and make recommendations on how to effectively interpret and implement section 27 of the Constitution to achieve equal benefits on access to health care services to everyone in South Africa.