Abstract

MAHOMED, S; LABUSCHAIGNE, M  and  SLABBERT, M. Justice in the provision of healthcare services - a stifled right in the private sector. SAJBL [online]. 2022, vol.15, n.3, pp.92-95. ISSN 1999-7639.  https://doi.org/10.7196/SAJBL.2022.v15i3.371.

Private medical aids are essentially non-profit organisations that aim to fund the delivery of speedy treatment, and should protect members from unexpected, out-of-pocket expenses for medical care. However, although the latest statistics show that 16.2% of individuals in South Africa (SA) are members of medical aid schemes, making the promise of private healthcare accessible to a small percentage of the population, they are not without their own unique set of challenges. The restrictions that exist within the private sector have a direct bearing on the types of healthcare services patients can access, which in turn impacts on the fundamental right to access healthcare. Using a recent High Court decision, this article seeks to explore justice in the provision of healthcare services, specifically within the private sector in SA.

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