According to a 2025 study by researchers at Walter Sisulu University damaged health infrastructure in rural areas is a major contributor to patients failing to take their medication, with devastating consequences for public health and mortality rates, reported and Sunday Times (20 July 2025)
Top of the list are chronic medication for conditions such as HIV, tuberculosis, hypertension, and diabetes that can lead to long-term adverse health outcomes, increased mortality.
The costs to repair damaged healthcare infrastructure are exceeding R330m: Eastern Cape: needs over R128m for repairs; KwaZulu-Natal: more than R88m: North West: over R40m; Western Cape: more than R19m; and Gauteng over R15m.
Meanwhile healthcare specialists warn that climate change, including heavy rains and floods,place even greater pressure on an already burdened system threatening the constitutional right to healthcare.