South Africa is a hugely popular travel destination for expats and tourists alike. Whether you’re traveling for a safari or relocating to start a new career, you’ll probably want to know about South Africa’s healthcare system. On the plus side, South Africa has the best hospitals and medical infrastructure in southern Africa. However, there is much room for improvement. According to the 2020 Global Healthcare Index, South Africa’s healthcare system ranks 49th out of 89 countries. Health care accessibility remains poor in rural areas and there are problems retaining physicians in the public system. Furthermore, only an estimated 27% of patients who need mental healthcare receive it. That said, South Africa’s healthcare system is slowly and steadily improving overall. Healthcare in the country is administered by the Department of Health and we do not have a system of universal healthcare. Instead, a two parallel systems. A private healthcare system and a public healthcare system operate in tandem with one another. Chairperson of the South African Medical Association Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa and the President of the Africa Harm Reduction Alliance and Co-Founder of the African Medical Association Dr Kgosi Letlape join Lerato Mbele for the conversation.