Are the fees that the traditional health practitioner charges generally lower than that of the medical practitioner?

Abstract

Background: The cost of healthcare is a matter of concern for the public and the authorities. When a new healthcare provider enters the healthcare market, specifically the private sector, it is crucial to know if the fees will be affordable, especially when that service provider claims to be able to offer a far less expensive service than his competitors. The newcomer, the traditional health practitioner, was awarded statutory status in South Africa in terms of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act No 22 (2007). Although the training and skills of the various types of health practitioners are central to their ability to deliver an effective health service and influence the specific fee that the practitioner will charge, the focus of this research is only the financial aspect. Factors such as the nature, complexity, risk and difficulty level of procedures influence fees. The question here is whether the traditional health practitioner's fees are in general lower in comparison with that of the medical practitioner. Aims: The study aimed to determine if the fees of the traditional health practitioner are in general lower in comparison with that of the medical practitioner. Methods: This is an exploratory and descriptive study that makes use of a historical approach by means of investigation and a literature review. The emphasis is on using current documentation like articles, books and newspapers as primary sources to reflect on whether the fees of the traditional health practitioner are generally lower than that of the medical practitioner. The findings are offered in narrative form. Results: The research could not uncover any evidence to support the claim that the fees of the traditional health practitioner are lower in comparison with that of the medical practitioner. Conclusion: This research could not confirm that the fees of the traditional health practitioner are in general lower when compared with that of the medical practitioner.