Reforming healthcare in South Africa: What role for the private sector? (November 2011)

The main purpose of this report is to respond to this challenge by documenting not only the strengths but also the weaknesses of the private sector and the market conditions under which it operates. It proposes reforms which will allow the private sector to operate more efficiently broaden access to its services and enable it to contribute to the greater and more urgent task which faces policy makers – the rehabilitation of public sector healthcare. The report is based on 10 specially commissioned research papers, consultations and workshops with international health policy experts and meetings with South African health sector stakeholders. The essential message is that reform of private sector healthcare and of the market conditions under which it operates will be a step forward on the long road towards universal access to quality healthcare and not, as the private sector’s critics claim, a backward one.

Publisher: Centre for Development and Enterprise
Edition: CDE Research 18
Year of Publication: 2011