Human Rights and Health: The Legacy of Apartheid

This report was prepared at the request of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It shows how, during the apartheid period, the leadership of the health sector in South Africa subordinated ethical and human rights obligations tot he racist practices and political repression of the state.

They tolerated gross inequities in treatment based on race and vicious segregation in health services. They refused to discipline doctors who covered up torture, breached patient confidentiality in support security forces, or denied emergency medical treatment to protesters against apartheid. When confronted with human rights violations, professional societies sought to discrete those who protested against them.

These practices have left a terrible legacy. To protect and promote human rights in the health sector, the report recommends overhaul of codes of professional conduct to incorporate human rights standards; reform of professional societies, professional education and the disciplinary process; monitoring of human rights in health; and a greated voice for communities in the governance of health institutions.