30/10/2025
Why South Africa Needs to Invest in Primary Care
South Africa spends just 4.5% of its healthcare funds on GPs. In countries with stronger, more sustainable systems, that figure sits between 20–25%. The difference is not a technicality — it’s the difference between a healthcare system that prevents illness and one that is overwhelmed by it.
The Cost of Underinvestment
When primary care is underfunded:
Patients bypass the GP and go straight to hospitals.
Hospitals become overcrowded, with admissions that could have been avoided.
Medical schemes face unsustainable costs.
Patients suffer longer wait times, fragmented care, and higher out-of-pocket expenses.
The current imbalance fuels inefficiency and puts pressure on the very parts of the system that should be the safety net, not the first stop.
Why Primary Care Matters
Strong primary care is not just about having more GPs. It’s about giving them the tools, structures, and support to:
Prevent illness through screening and early interventions.
Coordinate care across specialists, hospitals, and allied health.
Manage chronic conditions so patients stay healthier, longer.
Build trust with communities by being accessible and human.
In every successful healthcare system, the GP is the anchor. Without them, costs spiral — and patients pay the price.
How PPO Serve Is Reversing the Trend
At PPO Serve, we’ve built the Value Care Team (TVCT) model to shift focus back to the front line:
GPs are supported by nurses, care coordinators, and allied health professionals.
Administrative burden is reduced, so doctors can focus on patients.
Outcomes are measured — fewer hospitalisations, better chronic care, healthier communities.
Costs are managed sustainably, benefitting both medical schemes and patients.
This isn’t theory. Across our network, we’re seeing the results: better care, less admin, more value.
The Future of Healthcare in South Africa
If South Africa is serious about building a sustainable healthcare system, the answer is clear:
Invest in primary care.
Empower GPs with the right support.
Shift the balance from hospitals to communities.
By rebalancing investment from 4.5% to 20–25%, we can unlock the potential of GPs as the cornerstone of healthcare — and deliver value to every patient, scheme, and provider in the process.
👉 Learn more about how PPO Serve and the Value Care Team are driving this change: https://pposerve.co.za
