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User Fee Abolition in South Africa: Re-Evaluating the Impact?

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  • Steven F. Koch

    (Department of Economics, University of Pretoria)

Abstract

The impact of the abolition of user fees in South Africa, a policy implemented in 1994 for children under the age of six and the elderly, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers, is examined via regression discontinuity. The analysis focuses on the use of public health care facilities for the receipt of curative care for the uninsured. The research also examines potential externalities that could arise from the policy, especially increased demand for curative care in the public sector amongst the insured. Regression discontinuity estimates, which control for the underlying relationship between age and receipt of curative care, point to a statistically insignificant policy impact amongst uninsured children and a statistically significant positive impact amongst insured children. In other words, the policy did not appear to improve access to healthcare, at least curative health care, for children who should have benefitted from the policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven F. Koch, 2013. "User Fee Abolition in South Africa: Re-Evaluating the Impact?," Working Papers 201331, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:pre:wpaper:201331
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    Keywords

    Free Health Care; Regression Discontinuity;

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