South Africa's health system consists of a large public sector and a smaller but fast-growing private sector.

Basic primary health care is offered free by the state whilst private sector care offers highly specialised hi-tech health services to those that can afford it.

Although the state contributes about 40% of all expenditure on health, the public health sector is under pressure to deliver services to about 80% of the population. The wealthiest 20% of the population uses the private system and are far better served.

Health Care in South Africa

There are a number of public health issues such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, smoking related illnesses and tuberculosis in South Africa contributing to a life expectancy at birth for women at 53 years and for men at 49 years. However, those not affected by the above factors generally have a life expectancy similar to that of most Europeans.

Public hospitals and clinics in South Africa are usually reasonably well equipped and staffed although often very overcrowded and you will most likely have to pay for treatment.

Specialist treatment is available at state hospitals, but waiting lists can be very long and it is recommended to opt for private treatment if you can afford it.

Visits to dentists and other private sector health professionals are not funded by Medicare and you will have to pay for these services or using private health insurance. However, in comparative terms, the cost is very low and has led to a booming health care tourism industry.

Government Responsibilities

The state contributes about 40% of all expenditure on health and consumes around 11% of the government's total budget, which is allocated and spent by the nine provinces.

How these resources are allocated, and the standard of health care delivered, varies from province to province.

The Department of Health seeks to improve the quality of care of all levels of the health system, especially preventive and promotive health, and to improve the overall efficiency of the health care delivery system.

Roles of Different Agencies and Departments

The following provincial departments are the main contributors in the South African healthcare industry.

• Free State
• Gauteng
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Mpumalanga
• Limpopo Province Western Cape

There are also various agencies that contribute to the health care system: 

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) – A non-statutory, professional association for public and private sector medical practitioners. 

Health Systems Trust - Contributes to the development of a health system that can meet the needs of all South Africans, including the most disadvantaged.