National Health Insurance pilot phase and service delivery evaluation in rural areas of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Abstract

The South African national department of the health system is piloting the National Health Insurance (NHI). This is in preparation for the overhaul of healthcare services so that they are efficient and equitable to all citizens immaterial of their socio-economic status. This article aims to evaluate healthcare providers' perceptions of improved service delivery by the government’s health department during the first piloting phases of the NHI. The context of the study is a health district center in a rural area of KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa. The article is interdisciplinary in that it interrogates governance issues in the health sector. A quantitative research methodology was utilized to collect data from 30 participants who were the center’s staff. The findings indicate that the significant areas of concern are lack of improvement in response rate to emergencies, ambulances, provision of resources, and specialized staff. The implication is that the government’s health department working with provincial departments, still has major healthcare reforms to address if the NHI program contributes effectively to healthcare service delivery.