Healthcare in South Africa
Healthcare is separated into public and private sectors. The private healthcare sector is excellent with top-notch personnel working within the industry. The country has a history of carrying out cutting-edge medical procedures and upholds international standards of research and practice.
While the public healthcare system is incredibly affordable and the professionals within the sector are equally reliable, the facilities can be shocking, with day-long queues and dingy exam rooms. Public healthcare also tends to be under resourced and over extended - often it can be months before an appointment can be made, and bureaucracy is a large limiting factor when it comes to receiving treatment in a timely and efficient manner.
For this reason, those who can afford to will almost always pay for private healthcare. This system is world-class and favoured by the middle to high-income bracket; though treatment can become pricy without adequate insurance. Most cities, towns and villages have clinics, hospitals and General Practitioners.; though in the very rural areas it will be necessary to travel to the nearest centre to obtain appropriate treatment – never more than a two hour commute.
The major private hospital groups include Mediclinic and Netcare. It is strongly recommend that you take out good international health insurance or that you ensure your local compensation package includes local health insurance from a reputable providers such as Momentum or Discovery.
While the public healthcare system is incredibly affordable and the professionals within the sector are equally reliable, the facilities can be shocking, with day-long queues and dingy exam rooms. Public healthcare also tends to be under resourced and over extended - often it can be months before an appointment can be made, and bureaucracy is a large limiting factor when it comes to receiving treatment in a timely and efficient manner.
For this reason, those who can afford to will almost always pay for private healthcare. This system is world-class and favoured by the middle to high-income bracket; though treatment can become pricy without adequate insurance. Most cities, towns and villages have clinics, hospitals and General Practitioners.; though in the very rural areas it will be necessary to travel to the nearest centre to obtain appropriate treatment – never more than a two hour commute.
The major private hospital groups include Mediclinic and Netcare. It is strongly recommend that you take out good international health insurance or that you ensure your local compensation package includes local health insurance from a reputable providers such as Momentum or Discovery.
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