<P> In South Africa, private and public health systems exist in parallel . The public system serves the vast majority of the population, but is chronically underfunded and understaffed . The wealthiest 20% of the population use the private system and are far better served . In 2005, South Africa spent 8.7% of GDP on health care, or US $437 per capita . Of that, approximately 42% was government expenditure . About 79% of doctors work in the private sector . </P> <P> The first hospital in South Africa, a temporary tent to care for sick sailors of the Dutch East India Company (the Company) afflicted by diseases such as typhoid and scurvy, was started at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652 . </P>

What is the state of the south african health care system