Double standards – are uninsured patients treated differently by South Africa’s private GPs?

From:: Department for International Development
Published: 1 January 2003

Country:: South Africa
Document Type:: Briefing
Theme:: Health
Authors:: Schneider, H., Brugha, R., Zwi, A., Chabikuli, N., Blaauw, D.

Abstract

Many South African patients seek care for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) through the private sector. Many of the patients seeking STI care are uninsured. How does this affect the quality and equity of services? Research co-ordinated by South Africa’s Witwatersrand University found that doctors’ perceptions of willingness or ability to pay for drugs influence the quality of care that patients receive.

Citation