Privatisation of South African health care: In whose interest?

Abstract

In this article, essentially a critique on the privatisation of health care delivery in South Africa, the concept and social phenomenon of privatisation is analysed and evaluated, and the detrimental side-effects and latent consequences thereof dismantled. It is argued that the privatisation of South African health care is a reflection of narrow economistic thinking that will neither contribute to the more efficient functioning of the existing health care system nor alleviate the prevailing problems of shortages of resources and deficiencies in organisation. Privatisation of South African health care is in the last instance and in many respectse not in the interest of the patient population in all its diversity.