They were born into an economic apartheid even if political apartheid has ended. And they’re only 7.3% of the population.
Only 18% of the local population regularly use private providers and despite being much smaller than the public sector, it accounts for about half of expenditures. About 79% of doctors work privately, leaving only 21% of doctors for the public sector. The distribution of healthcare resources is inequitable because it disproportionately favors private health care. There are over 120 medical schemes that historically excluded black South Africans until 1970 and still mostly cater to wealthier demographics. Medical schemes vary by occupation and the capacity of people to afford them. The schemes requires members to pay copayments and for services not included in the benefits package. Only 16% of the population has a medical scheme because the cost is still a barrier to a majority of South Africans. About 73% of white individuals are members of a medical scheme, 52% of Asian individuals and only 10% of black Africans, indicating a clear racial disparity in private coverage.