Medical Xenophobia and Zimbabwean Migrant Access to Public Health Services in South Africa

Abstract

Xenophobic attitudes and actions are all-pervasive in South Africa in civil society and the state. Medical xenophobia refers to the negative attitudes and practices of health professionals and employees towards migrants and refugees based purely on their identity as non-South African. This paper examines the extent to which xenophobia manifests itself within the public institutions that offer health services to citizens and non-citizens, based on primary research with Zimbabwean migrants who try to access the system. The paper argues that medical xenophobia is deeply entrenched in the South African public health system despite being a fundamental breach of the country's Constitution and Bill of Rights, international human rights obligations and the existence of professional codes of ethics governing the treatment of patients.

Keywords:

• South Africa
• Zimbabwe Migrants
• Xenophobia
• Public Health

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) for funding the research on which this paper is based.

Notes

[1] http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/1996/96cons2.htm

[2] http://www.lhr.org.za/sites/lhr.org.za/files/Refugee%20Act%20130%20of%201998.pdf

[3] Interview No 34, Masiphumelele, Cape Town, 29 August 2010.

[4] Interview No 61, Johannesburg Central, 31 August 2010.

[5] Participant in Focus Group Discussion, Du Noon, Cape Town, 4 September 2010.

[6] Interview No 97, Orange Farm, Johannesburg, 3 September 2010.

[7] Interview No 81, Alexandra Park, Johannesburg, 1 September 2010.

[8] Interview No 6, Observatory, Cape Town, 22 August 2010.

[9] Participant in Focus Group Discussion, Masiphumelele, Cape Town, 5 September 2010.

[10] Interview No 8, Observatory, Cape Town, 23 August 2010.

[11] Interview No 74, Alexandra Park, Johannesburg, 1 September 2010.

[12] Participant in Focus Group Discussion, Du Noon, Cape Town, 4 September 2010.

[13] Interview No 67, Alexandra Park, Johannesburg, 1 September 2010.

[14] Interview No 12, Du Noon, Cape Town, 25 August 2010.