South Africa's healthcare system has been a political battlefield ahead of the May 8 general election.
File: People walk on a public passage at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in the South African landmark township of Soweto.JOHANNESBURG - Six psychiatric patients are tied to their beds in two tiny, dimly lit cubicles in the emergency ward of South Africa's biggest hospital, where the country's dire healthcare crisis is starkly evident.
According to a doctor who wished to remain anonymous, some are left for three days with little food and water -- one sign of chronic lack of resources in South Africa's healthcare system, which has been a political battlefield ahead of the May 8 general election. Health spending in South Africa accounts for 8,8% of GDP. However, less than half of that is spent within the public sector and 4,6% of GDP is spent within the private sector.
DA policy is to work with private healthcare insurance companies to extend low-cosy coverage to more than 50% of citizens.
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