Quiz 8: The governance and organisation of healthcare in South Africa

Please choose the one, most correct answer to each question or statement.

1. Which of the following is the highest authority in South Africa?
   • The Cabinet
   • The President
   • The Constitution
   • The Council of Provinces
2. The three main branches of government should be independent of each other. This important democratic principle is called:
   • The universal franchise
   • Proportional representation
   • Liberty, equality and brotherhood
   • The separation of powers
3. Which branch of government is responsible for making laws?
   • The legislature
   • The executive
   • The judiciary
   • The cabinet
4. When a law is being made, a “green paper” is often presented to the public for discussion. A green paper is:
   • The first document that introduces a proposed law for discussion
   • A more detailed statement of what the government intends to do
   • A draft law that must be approved by cabinet
   • A statement from government lawyers that the draft law is consistent with the constitution
5. The National Department of Health:
   • Develops health policies
   • Runs clinics and hospitals
   • Employs clinical staff
   • Makes decisions about the purchase of major items such as X-ray machines
6. Provincial departments of health:
   • Are responsible for monitoring environmental pollution and pest control
   • Inspect public eating places
   • Are responsible for running hospitals and clinics and managing the health budget
   • Receive their budgets directly from the National Department of Health
7. In local government, a “ward”:
   • Is a person designated by the mayor to be responsible for a community
   • Coordinates the activities of local municipalities
   • Is only found in metropolitan municipalities
   • Is the smallest unit of local government. Voters in a ward elect a councillor to the local or metropolitan council
8. Regulations:
   • Are general principles that do not need updating regularly
   • Must be approved by both houses of Parliament
   • Lay out the details of how a law will be applied
   • Are decided by cabinet
9. Which statement about statutory bodies is true?
   • They have to answer to the President
   • They are established by an Act of Parliament to produce regulations and administer laws
   • The South African Pharmacy Council is responsible for ensuring the quality of medicines sold in South Africa
   • The Council for Medical Schemes is responsible for registering private doctors
10. Which statement about policies is true?
    • Once a policy is made, it should not be updated for 10 years
    • Policies should only be made by the superintendent or chief executive of a hospital
    • Ignoring policies is a legal offence
    • The aim of a policy should be made clear
11. Which of the following is a primary care facility?
    • A hospital which only treats children
    • A mobile clinic
    • A facility that provides chronic care to the elderly
    • An emergency unit at a large hospital
12. Which is a specialised hospital?
    • A TB hospital
    • A hospital for women’s problems only
    • A hospital with a ward for teenagers
    • A teaching hospital
13. In South Africa, general practitioners usually work in:
    • Specialised hospitals
    • District hospitals
    • Regional hospitals
    • Tertiary hospitals
14. A specialist in general paediatrics usually works in which sort of hospital in South Africa?
    • Primary care clinic
    • District hospital
    • Regional hospital
    • Tertiary hospital
15. A paediatric cardiologist usually works in which sort of hospital in South Africa?
    • Primary care clinic
    • District hospital
    • Regional hospital
    • Tertiary hospital
16. The commonest type of hospital in South Africa is a:
    • Specialised hospital
    • District hospital
    • Regional hospital
    • Tertiary hospital
17. Emergency centres in South African government hospitals:
    • Require referral from a general practitioner
    • Are often used by people seeking primary care
    • Work on an appointments’ only basis
    • Usually require payment in advance
18. In South Africa, emergency ambulances:
    • Are dispatched on a “first come first served” basis
    • Must always go to the closest hospital
    • Ambulance crews can decide whether they think a case is serious before attending
    • Can take a government patient to a private facility for stabilisation if necessary
19. Who provides primary health services in schools?
    • School health nurses
    • Private general practitioners
    • Specially trained teachers
    • There are no health services in schools
20. Which statement about the prison health service is true?
    • It is completely separate from the Department of Health, meaning that prisoners do not need to be seen in government hospitals
    • It is well staffed
    • The security precautions for prisoners seen in government hospitals is the responsibility of the department of correctional services
    • Prisoners are at low risk of infectious disease because they are physically separated from each other