The importance of Sustainable Development Goal 3 in attaining an equal and quality health system in South Africa, and policies that are relevant to SDG 3.
In order to end poverty, decrease unequal opportunities, and create peaceful, thriving communities by the year 2030 the United Nations Member States, which includes South Africa, chose to take on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in 2015. (UNICEF, n.d.) There are seventeen sustainable development goals. SDG 3 is related to health, Good Health and Well-being. SDG 3 has goals that are well aligned with the creation of a National Health System (NHI). The NHI removes monetary obstacles which affect accessibility to healthcare by guaranteeing that everyone who resides in South Africa as a citizen or a resident, regardless of their economic status, have access to high-quality healthcare offered through the collaborating of private and public health sectors. (South African Government, 2014)
SDG3 has nine targets, which can be used a quality measuring tool with its implementation. The first goal is to reduce the maternal death rate worldwide. Second, to stop new-born and young children under the age of five from dying needlessly. The third is to tackle hepatitis, water-borne illnesses, and other communicable diseases while also putting a stop to the epidemics of AIDS, TB, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases. Fourth, encourage mental health and wellbeing and minimize death from noncommunicable diseases by utilising prevention and treatment methods. The fifth goal is to strengthen efforts to prevent and treat substance misuse, particularly alcohol abuse and narcotic drugs. (United Nations South Africa, 2023)
The sixth goal is to reduce by half the annual amount of people killed and injured in traffic accidents worldwide. Seventh, make sure that all people have access to family planning, information, and education, as well as the inclusion of reproductive health in national policies and initiatives. The eighth goal aims to realize universal health coverage, which includes financial risk protection, accessibility to high-quality basic medical services, and universal access to safe, reliable, high-quality, and reasonably priced basic medications and immunizations. Target nine is the reduction of fatalities and diseases caused by toxic substances, as well as pollution and contamination of the environment, including soil, water, and air. (United Nations South Africa, 2023)
For SDG 3 to be realised in South Africa hindrances need to be dealt with. Numerous structural and systemic issues, such as ubiquitous inefficiencies, personnel shortages, differences in skill levels across rural and urban areas, and subpar handling of patients are some of the issues that the South African health system faces. Owing to the continuing disparities between public and private healthcare, the public sector is overburdened relative to the private sector. Additionally, due to urban planning practices from the time of apartheid, many South Africans continue to lack convenient access to public institutions, services, and amenities. (de Villiers, 2021) SDG 3, target one to five, aim to improve health access and make use of preventing strategies to reduce the prevalence of communicable diseases. For the goals to be met the South African Health system must address the structural and systematic issues discussed above.
The two policies that are relevant for the realisation of SGD 3 are the National Health Act and the National Health Insurance Bill (NHI Bill). The two policies raise the importance of each and every citizen having the right to receive healthcare. This is consistent with SDG 3, which promotes wellbeing for each individual and protects the health of all people. (Mhlanga and Garidzirai, 2020)
The National Health Act endeavours to manage national health and establish standardization for medical services throughout the country. In addition to protecting South African's right to obtain health care services, notably reproductive health care, it outlines the rights and obligations of providers of healthcare, workers, institutions, and users. It also promotes the rights of vulnerable groups like women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, the people of South Africa to an environment that is not detrimental to their health or well-being, and children to access basic nourishment, and basic health care services. (REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, 2004)
During the South African apartheid era, race and socioeconomic status (SES) were significant determinants of access to and use of healthcare services. The health sector is one of several areas of the nation where post-apartheid inequality is still severe. As opposed to a person's need for care, SES has a greater impact on access to high-quality services. (Mhlanga and Garidzirai, 2020) The National Health Act addresses SES issues and works to improve the health system which reaches the many of the same goals that are set out in the SDG 3. It embodies goals six to nine of SDG 3 while addressing structural and systematic issues, if implemented it will significantly increase the chance of South Africa having good health and Well-being for all.
In accordance with the Constitution, the NHI Bill's goal is to provide all South Africans access to high-quality healthcare. By making sure that no one is denied the right to healthcare according to their socioeconomic status, the NHI Bill aims at accomplishing this. The end goal is to attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and to do this, one public health fund is established with sufficient resources to prepare for and successfully satisfy the health requirements of everyone in the nation, not just for a small number of individuals. (Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, 2020) With high-quality healthcare for all being the focus, effective implementation will lead to SDG 3 success in South Africa.
Reference list:
de Villiers, K. (2021). Bridging the health inequality gap: an examination of South Africa’s social innovation in health landscape. Infectious Diseases of Poverty, [online] 10(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-021-00804-9.
Goal Tracker South Africa (2017). GOAL 3 GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. [online] Goaltracker.org. Available at: https://south-africa.goaltracker.org/platform/south-africa/goals/3 [Accessed 7 Jun. 2023].
Mhlanga, D. and Garidzirai, R. (2020). The Influence of Racial Differences in the Demand for Healthcare in South Africa: A Case of Public Healthcare. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, [online] 17(14). doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17145043.
Parliament of the Republic of South Africa (2020). National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill - Parliament of South Africa. [online] Parliament.gov.za. Available at: https://www.parliament.gov.za/project-event-details/54 [Accessed 8 Jun. 2023].
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA (2004). Government Gazette REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA THE PRESIDENCY. [online] Goal Tracker South Africa, Cape Town , pp.16–18. Available at: https://www.datocms-assets.com/7245/1574922053-national-health-act-no-61-of-2003.pdf [Accessed 7 Jun. 2023].
South African Government (2014). Health | south african government. [online] Www.gov.za. Available at: https://www.gov.za/about-sa/health [Accessed 8 Jun. 2023].
UNICEF (2023). UNICEF and the Sustainable Development Goals | UNICEF. [online] www.unicef.org. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/unicef-and-sustainable-development-goals [Accessed 7 Jun. 2023].
United Nations South Africa (2023). Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | United Nations in South Africa. [online] southafrica.un.org. Available at: https://southafrica.un.org/en/sdgs/6 [Accessed 7 Jun. 2023].
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