Topic:
Country: South Africa
Delegate Name: Dylan Potter
World Health Organization
Expanding access to medical resources
the Republic of South Africa
Dylan potter
Forest Hills Eastern
The world of medicine is constantly evolving. As medical advantages continue to save the lives of millions of people globally, the access to medical resources remains inaccessible to many. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates 400 million do not have access to essential health services and 6% of the population are tipped into or pushed further into extreme poverty because of Health Spending. A study conducted by Maphumulo and Bhengu found overwhelming evidence that quality of healthcare in South Africa has been compromised by many challenges that have a negative impact on healthcare quality. Improvement in quality care means less errors, decrease time it takes to get care, improvement in efficiency, increased market share and lower cost. Decline in quality health care has caused the public to lose trust in the healthcare system in South Africa.
The Republic of South Africa has created many programs to help expand access to medical resources. South Africa Medical & Education Foundation’s mission is to create an environment where quality health care and education is available to everyone. High impact projects are utilized to supply medical and education services in South Africa with resources vitally needed to enhance services already rendered to the community. The Foundation to date has funded projects in over 30 hospitals and clinics in Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Eastern and Western Cape. The CDC South Africa uses its scientific expertise to combine strengths with South Africa to make greater gains in health. One such program is the TB/HIV care association which funds access to screening, testing, and treatment, saving lives in South Africa. But, there is still more work to be done within South Africa and the rest of the world.
If the country had a strong primary health care network with competent well trained community health workers, it would have had a better chance of containing the spread of COVID-19 as well as linking people to care sooner so that deaths could be reduced. The Republic of South Africa has begun to fund initiatives and programs to promote access to equitable healthcare for all, but the effects of CoVid-19 have been detrimental to the healthcare system and has shown the areas needed for improvement. For example in the current response to COVID-19 how quickly people can access testing, care or even vaccination is determined by their ability to pay. This is neither just nor fair. So re propose to reduce cost of private health care.
