Some five million people (over 90 percent) in this province do not have access to a medical aid and rely on the public health sector.
The primary health care expenditure increased on average by a mere R8 per capita in 2006/7 to R198, which is far below the average for South Africa.
‘Poor districts require greater than average resources, not less!’ the researchers exclaimed.
The three districts with the lowest workload are contained in Limpopo with nurses seeing an average of 18 patients a day, compared to for example well over 50 in the Western Cape.
The clinic supervision rate of 57,9 percent in the Capricorn district, meant that two out of five clinics did not get regular supervision in 2006/7, which is inadequate to improve the quality of primary health care.
Researchers said the lack of improvement in the TB cure rate and smear conversion rate, a priority programme, indicated the need for increased managerial intervention
The Greater Sekhukhune district is one of the poorest in the country with only 58,5 percent of households accessing piped water. This district was also the second lowest primary health care spender in the country with nurses seeing on average only 14 patients a day, the second lowest in the country. The district had a TB cure rate of 54 percent, slightly down on last year.
Bucking the trend, Vhembe district, still one of the poorest in South Africa, saw a slight decrease in the TB cure rate from 75 percent to 72 percent, but it was still ranked the fifth best in South Africa. The smear conversion rate continued to improve to 76,8 percent and was ranked second highest in the country.
‘This is a very good performance for a poor district,’ researchers said. Vhembe managed this despite spending R28 less per person on primary health care.
Other Provinces:
