The Dire Shortage of Ambulances in the South African Healthcare System: Unblurring Implications on the Right to Health

It has been more than two decades since South Africa moved to embrace democratic dispensation. The dispensation symbolised a move from an apartheid system that was exclusive and discriminatory when it comes to delivering health services to the black population of South Africa. As history records, the new democratic South Africa should be one that delivers services to all people of South Africa equally, irrespective of the poor background, colour, societal standing and organisational affiliation. However, it has been agonisingly noted lately that South Africans have been subjected to severe, daunting and harsh treatment that is unsigned for. The poor treatment of patients in the South African hospitals, and late and inefficient ambulances gave rise to the question: 'Have the lives of patients now become less important?' It is against this background that this article argues extensively from an Afrocentric point of view that the South African healthcare system is structurally made to punish the poor segment of the South African population. To broadly understand why South Africa's healthcare system is in such a mess, the article has relied on document analysis and thematic content interpretation of the prevailing documents in their broadest form. It has been revealed that the South African healthcare system suffers from dire shortages of ambulances and EMS and a faster implementation of the National Health Insurance can assist the affected South Africans.