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Health minister announces free healthcare for disabled
Jillian Green
2003-07-03

Healthcare facilities are now free for people with disabilities. According to a statement released by the health ministry on Tuesday, the move forms part of the government's efforts to expand services to people in need of social support. People with the following disabilities would benefit: people with permanent, moderate or severe disability. This includes people who move with difficulty and cannot walk on their own; those who cannot dress or eat on their own; and those with communication problems and vision and hearing difficulties; those diagnosed with chronic irreversible psychiatric disability. These patients will qualify irrespective of the fluctuation in their mental status; and, frail, older people and long-term institutionalised state-subsidised patients. A standardised assessment tool had been developed that would be used in all provinces to classify beneficiaries, the statement said. The free services, however, would not be available to people with temporary disabilities or chronic illness. The free healthcare services would allow qualifying people to access free in-patient and outpatient hospital services. Tshabalala-Msimang said the care would include specialist medical attention, prosthetics, wheelchairs, and hearing aids. (Source: Jillian Green: The Star, 2 July 2003)

Healthcare facilities are now free for people with disabilities.

According to a statement released by the health ministry on Tuesday, the move forms part of the government's efforts to expand services to people in need of social support.

Disability is a substantial contributor to poverty. As government we are determined to address the challenges facing people with disability within our broader programmes of poverty eradication, social support and economic opportunities for the poor, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said.

People with the following disabilities would benefit: people with permanent, moderate or severe disability. This includes people who move with difficulty and cannot walk on their own; those who cannot dress or eat on their own; and those with communication problems and vision and hearing difficulties; those diagnosed with chronic irreversible psychiatric disability. These patients will qualify irrespective of the fluctuation in their mental status; and, frail, older people and long-term institutionalised state-subsidised patients.

A standardised assessment tool had been developed that would be used in all provinces to classify beneficiaries, the statement said. The free services, however, would not be available to people with temporary disabilities or chronic illness.

The free healthcare services would allow qualifying people to access free in-patient and outpatient hospital services. Tshabalala-Msimang said the care would include specialist medical attention, prosthetics, wheelchairs, and hearing aids. (Source: The Star, 2 July 2003)

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