South African government condemns prevention to access healthcare services.

Government of South Africa condemns the actions of some citizens who have been preventing people from accessing healthcare services at Kalafong Hospital, in Attridgeville, based on the colour of their skin and the language spoken. In a statement issued by the Department of Communications they stated that these actions by a few were infringing on basic human rights and went against the tenets of the country’s hard fought for democracy.
The statement read:
In South Africa, the right to access basic health services is a basic human right that is guaranteed by the Constitution. South Africa is governed by the rule of law, which makes provision for every person in the country, regardless of their nationality or documentation status to access healthcare.
The victimization of patients and hospital employees who are suspected of being foreign nationals should be condemned by all of us.  The Southern African Development Community Agreements, to which South Africa is a party to allows foreign nationals from member states to receive the same care as all South Africans.

Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said “preventing access to healthcare can have dire consequences to patients and have a negative impact on the public health system and to citizens at large. We understand that the public health system is overburdened because of a myriad of challenges; however, doctors and healthcare workers have an obligation to provide healthcare to those in need.

The Hippocratic Oath guides the actions of doctors, which includes them not withholding services because of religion, nationality, race, politics or social standing. Government is hard at work to improve our healthcare system and deal with challenges.”

South Africa subscribes to its constitutional principles which protect the human rights of all the people living in the country.  South Africans should strive to live in harmony with fellow Africans and be part of building a better South Africa and a better Africa.

Issued by: Department of Communications