Rural culture

RHAP Programme Manager: Rural-Proofing Policy and Budgeting (RPB) Programme for Improved Access to Quality Health Care in Rural South Africa

Employer: 
Wits Health Consortium
Closing Date: 
9 November 2012

The Rural Health Advocacy Project is a partnership initiative between the Rural Doctors Association of Southern Africa (RuDASA), the Wits Centre for Rural Health (WCRH) and Section27. The work of the RHAP revolves around the constitutional right of rural and remote communities to have equitable access to comprehensive, quality health care.

The RHAP has established a new programme that aims to improve access to quality health care services in rural South Africa through more equitable and effective planning and financing of rural health services.

Main purpose of the job

To lead, coordinate and implement the RPB Programme objectives

Location

Braamfontein, Johannesburg

South African Health Review 2011

Series Name: 
South African Health Review
Published by: 
Health Systems Trust

The SAHR 2011 provides valuable policy and empirical information on a range of issues that are related to and impact on the Negotiated Service Delivery Agreement and primary health care re-engineering as envisaged by the National Department of Health (NDoH). A range of experts provide commentary on topics ranging from rural health, health technology to human resources. SAHR 2011 also contains a section on core health issues, where developments in health information systems, financing health care, and health legislation and policy are discussed. The Review concludes with the Indicators chapter which presents a selection of the best available data on the functioning and performance of the health system.

Monitoring the effect of the new rural allowance for health professionals

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust
This study is the first attempt to assess the effect of the new rural allowance on the motivation and movement of health professionals working in rural areas. Although methodologically limited, the study gives some indication of the likely impact of the funds allocated by Treasury, namely that almost one-third of health professionals working in rural areas say that they have changed their career plans next year as a result of the new allowance. It is difficult to assess whether this is the effect of the RA alone, or in combination with the SSA. Further evaluations will be necessary to assess the longer-term impact of these strategies.

Do South African rural origin medical students return to rural practice?

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust
There is a major shortage of doctors in rural areas in South Africa. About 46% of the population in South Africa live in non-urban areas (1), and they do not always have the same access to health services as their urban counterparts. One example is Mount Frere district, where the doctor to population ration is 1:30 000 (2).

Focus on Rural Health

Series Name: 
HST Update
Published by: 
Health Systems Trust
If the principal aim of the public health sector is to improve the health of South Africans, then our focus must be the health of rural people. In other words, the reform efforts and upheavals which have left the South African health system creaking and groaning in protest must continue until it is turned on its head - and is explicitly biased towards rural health. Rural people bear the greatest burden of disease, mainly because rural people bear the greatest burden of poverty. But paradoxically, urban dwellers are better served by both public and private health care resources. Simply put, rural people are generally poorer and less healthy -and have less access to health care.