The healthcare in South Africa is divided by the public and private care, those who have a low income get public health care, but those who have a high income manage to afford private healthcare. Expats who get private health care do so because it offers full medical coverage along with hospital and emergency care.
Treatment is not free of charge in the country unless you are eligible for a fee waiver or a rebate test
Public Healthcare
The South African citizens and residents use the public health care system which is affected by the lack of funding that is provided. Some services are free of charge but majority of the services you will have to pay for which generally depends on the patient’s income and the number of dependants.
There are three main categories of patients:
- Fully subsidised patients: Patients who are on benefits, are pregnant or children under the age of 6
- Full paying patients: For patients who are earning more than ZAR6,000 per month
- Partly paying patients: These are able to get subsidised treatment because of low income
If you aren’t eligible for subsidised treatment the hospital will follow a uniform patient fee scheme, especially if you are unable to pay for the fees necessary.
The benefit of public hospitals is that there are qualified skills professionals but unfortunately are badly maintained, patients could be waiting days/months for treatments in long queues to see specialists and there may over worked staff.
Private Healthcare in South Africa
South Africa has an excellent private healthcare system and those people who can afford it prefer to get this. There are more than 200 private hospitals in the country and majority of the best health professional’s work here. The private healthcare goes beyond the standard of care and the system caters to European/foreigners for treatments in plastic surgery and cosmetic dental work.
Whatever city or town you are living in, you will be sure to find many private health care facilities in terms of hospitals, GP’s and clinics. However, if you are living in the rural areas you may be required to travel to the towns
Private healthcare however is expensive especially for those individuals who are on a low/middle income. Expats are able to pay per treatments and if you visit the GP regularly you may need to pay insurance for medical costs.
It is recommended to take out private health insurance to protect against the big bills that come with emergency and regular visits.
Health Insurance
Private health insurance is worth getting and there are many international and local health insurance companies which are available to expats moving to the country. The hospitals expect you to have health insurance before you are admitted as their patient, this is not necessary if you can pay upfront.
Before applying for health insurance, you should check on what you will be paying for as you may be entitled for treatment which is paid by the government and also check if you are able to get subsidised treatment in the public health care services
There are different schemes and monthly charges with each health insurance company and individuals must keep their medical aid card with them at all times.
Most expats get the basic hospital plan which covers hospital and ambulance transport, but there may be a limit on the private hospitals. This will also not cover day to day medical expenses for dental treatments, specialist consultations or prescription medications so it is important to research and compare the different packages that there are with the health insurance company.
Some health insurance companies include: Bonitas, Medshield, Fedhealth and Discovery
Expats who don’t want to get health insurance in South Africa should consider using international insurance providers.
International health insurance would cover you against:
- Medical costs in South Africa
- Medical costs in your home country or another foreign country
- Medical evacuation costs (Depending on how much you pay for insurance)
If you already have a foreign policy but not on an international insurance cover then this will not valid in South Africa. You must let your insurance provider know that you will be moving to the country so you are able to change your policy to an international cover.
Pharmacies
There are many pharmacies available in the cities and towns but for those who are in rural areas it is advised to pack basic medications as you will need to travel to the larger towns to get prescriptions
Emergency Services
Ambulance services are provided in South Africa but the standards and response times do vary. Emergency paramedics are employed by the government who usually work with volunteers this is mainly St John’s Ambulance and The South African Red Cross.
In addition to this there are two private national ambulance services – Netcare911 and ER24, these both have their own contact numbers and health insurance providers will have a preferred ambulance service which their customers use and are provided the emergency numbers
- NetCare911: 082 911
- SA Ambulance Service: 10177
- ER24: 084 124
Health Hazards in South Africa
There are some health hazards that you need to be aware of when travelling to South Africa. These include:
- Malaria: It is important to take anti-malarial medication or have a vaccination as there is a high risk along the borders of Kruger National Park, Mozambique and Swaziland. Other measures you can take to avoid being bitten by a mosquito is to use insect repellent and wear loose clothing in the dark
- Tap Water: In cities and towns the water is safe to drink but if in rural areas you should ensure that water has been boiled and ice should be avoided in drinks
- HIV/AIDS: It has been estimated that around 18% of the adult population carry the HIV virus, those who take precautions and are using protection do not need to be concerned
- Typhoid Fever, TB, Rabies