Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has expressed deep concern regarding the ongoing and systematic exclusion of non-South Africans from accessing essential healthcare services in South Africa. This troubling trend particularly impacts vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children, and people living with HIV, especially in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. MSF is calling on the National Department of Health (NDoH) and relevant provincial health authorities to take immediate action to uphold the right to healthcare for all individuals residing in the country.
For several weeks, anti-migrant groups have been obstructing access to clinics and hospitals, blocking non-South Africans from receiving necessary medical attention, regardless of their legal status. An MSF assessment across 15 healthcare facilities in Gauteng revealed that more than half were turning away patients due to the presence of these groups, who demand identification from everyone trying to enter.
“The findings from this assessment are deeply distressing and unacceptable,” said Claire Waterhouse, MSF Southern Africa’s Director of Operational Support Unit. “In some instances, security personnel and healthcare workers were seen colluding with these groups to deny access to care. It is imperative that the Department of Health addresses any healthcare facilities that enable such discrimination.”
The MSF team also reached out to nearly 50 patients who reported being denied care at 24 facilities in Johannesburg, Durban, and Tshwane. Many of these patients are pregnant women with high-risk conditions, as well as individuals with chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension. The emotional toll on these patients is immense, with many expressing fear and confusion about their healthcare options. Some have attempted to retrieve their medical records to seek treatment elsewhere but faced obstacles, leaving them without prescriptions or access to necessary medications.
The situation is dire for many, including Thando, a 33-year-old woman who was turned away from a hospital in Gauteng despite being a 16-week high-risk pregnant patient with hypertension. “I knew about the situation beforehand, but I still decided to try,” she recounted. “When I arrived, people were blocked from entering, and the nurses laughed, saying we don’t pay taxes and should leave.” Thando, struggling to support her family of seven through food sales, feels overwhelmed and desperate.
Similarly, Rose, who is 38 weeks pregnant, describes the trauma of being denied healthcare. “When you’re pregnant and turned away, you worry about your baby’s health and what could happen if complications arise,” she said. Meanwhile, Tecla, a 44-year-old domestic worker living with HIV, has not yet been blocked but regularly witnesses others being turned away. “I fear going to the clinic for my medication refill, and I can’t afford private care,” she shared.
Thousands of non-South Africans, many of them in vulnerable situations, continue to struggle to access basic healthcare. Even South Africans who lack proper identification or appear to be “non-South African” are also facing obstacles. This pattern of xenophobic actions threatens the fundamental right to health services.
MSF has been providing free medical care to vulnerable populations, including migrants and refugees, since 2007 and has responded to the ongoing impacts of xenophobia on healthcare access. The organization is calling for urgent action to ensure that healthcare facilities are safe for everyone, regardless of their nationality, and to foster community understanding around the importance of accessible healthcare for all.
As the situation unfolds, the need for immediate intervention from health authorities and community leaders becomes increasingly urgent, reinforcing the critical message that healthcare is a fundamental human right essential for all who reside in South Africa.
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