The right to medical care

The right to medical care, as a category of human rights, falls under the heading of Leistungsrechte; that is, rights of the individual that require of the state that it do something--in this instance to provide the services concerned. In South Africa the government's health care policy contemplated involves (a) differentiation based on race in the provision of health care services; and (b) privatization of such services. It is submitted that in developing societies, where private initiative cannot cope with the demands in respect of health care, privatization would be premature and existing inequalities in health care services provided for the different racial groups require greater government involvement, with a view to eliminating racial discrimination through programmes of affirmative action. Privatization, furthermore, requires government-sponsored incentives, such as tax concessions, that would inspire private persons to contribute financially towards health care services.