Access to healthcare is a right guaranteed for all

IN THE past few weeks, individuals identified as members of an organisation which calls itself March and March have stood at the entrance of public hospitals, particularly Addington Hospital in Durban, demanding to see the ID documents of all patients and visitors.

- THE ACTIVE CITIZENS MOVEMENT THE DENNIS HURLEY CENTRE PHOENIX SETTLEMENT TRUST

They have prevented entry to the hospital of at least the following categories of persons: those who either do not possess a South African ID document, or refuse to show them one; SA ID holders whose ID documents have been lost or stolen; SA ID holders who were born outside SA, and the children/grandchildren of parents/grandparents who are SA citizens but were born outside SA; and a disabled SA-born child whose mother, the holder of a green bar-coded ID, was born outside South Africa but resident here for 20 years.

This organisation makes various claims to support its conduct by claiming that it is enforcing the law by turning away undocumented persons or “foreigners”, who are not entitled to the services of the hospital because they are “illegal”. They say they are following the Constitution, in particular, sections 7 (Rights) and 27 (Health care, food, water and social security) by their actions.

They believe that “foreigners” are causing overcrowding in hospitals, affecting the rights of South Africans seeking healthcare services. They are allowing “emergency” patients irrespective of ID status.

Our organisations wish to make it clear that not only are these actions misguided and illegal, but their reasoning is flawed and the understanding of the Constitution and the National Health Act incorrect.

Firstly, these self-appointed guardians of the hospital gates have no authority either to “police” the hospital entrance nor demand proof of identity of any person. They do not have the authority to declare any-

one “illegal”. Secondly, there is no evidence that the cause of overcrowding in hospitals, as reported in some media, is the influx of “foreigners”.